Moussa Diaby has told Inter Milan he wants to join the Italian club next season, putting pressure on Al-Ittihad to decide whether to retain the France winger or negotiate his departure during the summer transfer window.
The 26-year-old has reportedly given Inter his full approval to wear the Nerazzurri shirt and has asked the Serie A club to reach an agreement with Al-Ittihad over a potential transfer.
According to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Diaby contacted Inter officials directly in recent hours to make clear his desire to return to European football through a move to San Siro. His preference is understood to be conditional on Inter and Al-Ittihad finding an agreement over the financial terms of the deal.
Diaby is no longer considering a continued stay in the Saudi Pro League among his preferred options and is pushing strongly to leave Al-Ittihad this summer.
The winger believes Inter’s sporting project, together with the opportunity to compete in the UEFA Champions League, represents the right next step in his career. His position has given the Italian club confidence as it attempts to strengthen its attacking options before the start of the new season.
Formal discussions are already taking place between Inter and Al-Ittihad, although the figures involved have not been disclosed. Inter are hoping Diaby’s clear wish to move to Milan will help them reduce the Saudi club’s demands.
Al-Ittihad signed Diaby for a significant fee not long ago, meaning any decision over his future could have important financial consequences for the club. The Saudi side has not yet issued an official comment on the situation.
Diaby is regarded as one of Inter’s principal targets for the winger position. The club’s manager is seeking to add greater depth and attacking quality to the squad ahead of the campaign, and the player’s willingness to join has strengthened Inter’s position in the negotiations.
However, his agreement is only one part of the proposed transfer. Reports suggest the player’s approval accounts for half of the deal, with the final outcome dependent on whether Inter can persuade Al-Ittihad to release one of its leading players.
That leaves Al-Ittihad facing a choice between keeping Diaby despite his stated preference and accepting his departure in exchange for a financial return before the transfer window closes. Inter, meanwhile, must still reach a settlement with the Saudi club if it is to turn the winger’s ambition of returning to Europe into a completed transfer.
