André Onana will join Inter to be the starter since he signed a considerable contract. However, the goalkeeper has struggled after returning from his doping-related suspension. He had a few blunders during the African Cup of Nations and with Ajax. The most recent one versus Benfica cost the Dutch side the qualification to the Champions League’s quarter-finals.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nerazzurri will carry on with their plan but want a reliable backup. Samir Handanovic, who is on an expiring contract, has looked close to getting an extension at times. The team seemed to have cooled off on such proposition, though. The most recent meeting between the parties was inconclusive at best.
The long-time starter did not take Inter opting to bring in Onana too kindly. However, the turn of events will likely help him out in the negotiation. The club and the agents of the veteran shot-stopper will have further summits before he becomes a free agent.
The parties may eventually wind up coming to terms on a seasonal deal and revisit the situation in 2023. The move would allow Inter to have a smoother transition from Handanovic to Onana. The newcomer will have to adjust to the new surroundings in the summer. Instead, the captain has significant pull in the locker room. In that event, the changing of the guard would not be abrupt. The same thing happened between Gianluigi Buffon and Wojciech Szczesny at Juventus in 2017-2018. Giuseppe Marotta was their CEO at the time.