Mendes at work with Goncalo Inacio's agent: Sporting want €45 million, AC Milan are there

Goncalo Inacio remains in AC Milan's thoughts and in those of his mentor Ruben Amorim. Sporting manager Rui Borges surprisingly left him on the bench for the entire league match against Alverca at the Alvalade in Lisbon.

Sporting’s demand

In Portugal, they are certain: according to Now Canal, a well-known Portuguese TV channel, Inacio is close to an imminent transfer. Jorge Mendes and Gonçalo Inácio's agent, the same one as Amorim's, are working to find the best solution for the 25-year-old, while Sporting are not demanding the full €60 million release clause and would accept between €40 million and €45 million to let him leave.

Watch out for Barcelona and Al Hilal

Gonçalo Inácio is attracting interest from Barcelona, AC Milan and Saudi side Al Hilal. Over the last few hours, the Blaugrana club have also stepped up their move for the Sporting centre-back, with Gerard Romero saying the 25-year-old is a target alongside RB Leipzig's French centre-back, Castello Lukeba, on a shortlist to strengthen their defence: sporting director Deco has been seen in Lisbon, where he is believed to have met the defender's agents, including a visit to Miguel Pinho, head of the AS1 agency and regarded as one of Portugal's most influential agents. Reports from Portugal confirm: "A big transfer is about to explode."

The manager opens the door to a farewell

Rui Borges, Sporting manager, said this after last night's win: "Can I guarantee that Gonçalo Inácio will stay at Sporting? I give no guarantees, neither about Inácio nor anyone else. Inácio did not play for tactical reasons, it was only a game strategy. I give no guarantees to anyone, because all the players have release clauses."

The developments

The decision is tied to a transfer that could be completed within hours, with the Portuguese defender, born in 2001, seemingly on the verge of leaving the club where he came through the ranks and has played since 2020. One to watch closely, especially as that Inacio has long been on AC Milan's radar and is Ruben Amorim's top target, who knows him well after coaching him for a long time.