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Going … staying … going … staying???

If only the saga surrounding Ivan Perisic would come to an end.    

FC Internazionale Milano v US Sassuolo Calcio - Serie A Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

The continuing saga of Ivan Perisic and whether he is staying or going continues to drag on.

And on and on and on.

It seems we can’t get to the real business of building Inter Milan back to it’s former glory until this mess is situated somehow, some way.

Inter boss Luciano Spalletti named the Croatian winger to the team’s summer travel squad meaning he will be with the team in China and Singapore through the end of July. The Nerazzurri are set for four games as part of the International Champions Cup, facing the likes of Schalke 04, Olymipique Lyon, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

All confirmed by the fact Perisic was videoed with the rest of the team getting ready to board the plane to China.

This does mean Perisic will not join Manchester United’s summer tour in the United States. However, it doesn’t mean a deal is not possible between the Nerazzurri and the Red Devils. The summer transfer window doesn’t close until Aug. 31, but both Jose Mourinho and most Inter fans would love to see this done one way or another a lot sooner than that.

This has seemingly drug on for years … even though it has only been a month or so. There’s been back-and-forth between the two clubs regarding Inter’s valuation of £48 million. Manchester has come back with offers well below that initial valuation to which Inter management have said “no deal” to.

But, rather than spend time focusing on what we do have in Milan Skriniar and Borja Valero, we are hearing more and more about Perisic. Does he want to be on this team? Dunno … only Perisic can answer that. However, I would contend that the allure of playing in England, for Mourinho and in the Champions League is one that Perisic wouldn’t pass up — regardless of where he may fit in with the Red Devils.

My thing here is s*** or get off the pot here. Interista are growing impatient to see just what this team will offer in the coming season. We really don’t need to be mired down by talk of players who may or may not want to be with the club. What about those who are on the field, wearing the shirt proudly.

If Manchester United want him, deal for him. Whether that includes cash and a player like Anthony Martial, Chris Smalling, Dog the Bounty Hunter or just cash … whatever.

To be clear, this is business and it is about supply and demand and market value. If you have something and you are willing to pay a price for it, that’s all well and good so long as that thing is for sale at the price you are willing to pay. If not, you either negotiate in good faith or you walk away.

I’ve been critical of Perisic and how this has unfolded, but it may be more sheer frustration over how that has dominated headlines. If he goes, he goes. If he stays, he stays and acts professional. As long as those are the outcomes, there isn’t much more to it.

Get it done one way or another and let’s gear up for the tour and the season.


The 28-man squad for Inter Milan’s summer tour

Tommaso Berni

Samir Handanovic

Daniele Padelli

Marco Pissardo

Cristian Ansaldi (will fly out to meet up with the squad once his recovery is complete)

Danilo D'ambrosio

Joao Miranda

Jeison Murillo

Yuto Nagatomo

Andrea Ranocchia

Milan Skriniar

Zinho Vanheusden

Federico Valietti

Iglesias Borja Valero

Marcelo Brozovic

Xian Emmers

Roberto Gagliardini

Naval Da Costa Joao Mario

Geoffrey Kondogbia

Rigoberto Rivas

Gabriel Barbosa

Jonathan Biabiany

Antonio Candreva

Citadin Martins Eder

Mauro Icardi

Stevan Jovetic

Ivan Perisic

Andrea Pinamonti

Davide Santon will not be traveling with the squad after a MRI scan revealed damage to the muscle-tendon join near the medial gastrocnemius in his right leg. Santon will remain in Milan to receive treatment on the problem.