Inter Milan Drop Interest In Sampdoria Teenager To Focus On Barcelona & Independiente Starlets | OneFootball

Inter Milan are no longer tracking Sampdoria youngster Giovanni Leoni. The club has reportedly decided to pursue other profiles.

The Italian champions have been searching the market for a young left-footed central defender to complete their ranks.

The Nerazzurri have been linked with Leoni for several months, as he appears to tick all the boxes.

The 17-year-old is a Padova youth product who joined Sampdoria last winter and immediately made waves in Serie B.

The teenager locked himself a starting role in Andrea Pirlo’s jigsaw, earning himself several suitors in the top flight.

But according to Sky Sport Italia via FcInterNews, Leoni is no longer a priority for the Nerazzurri.

The Serie A giants have reportedly shifted their attention towards alternative tracks.

The source names Mikayil Faye and Tomas Palacios as the club’s main objectives for the centre-back role.

Faye is a 20-year-old Senegalese player who joined Barcelona’s youth ranks last summer. The Blaugrana are reportedly desperate to sell him to make room for Dani Olmo on the squad list.

On the other hand, Palacios is the more affordable profile. The 20-year-old Argentine is a Talleres youth product who is currently on loan at Independiente Rivadavia who have the option to sign him on a permanent basis.

Inter Milan No Longer Keen To Sign Giovanni Leoni

As for Leoni, he’s no longer tipped to make the move to the Appiano Gentile, at least not this summer.

The Italy U19 international has a contract with Sampdoria running until June 2027.

Inter and the Blucerchiati were also working on other common operations this summer that didn’t reach the finish line.

The Ligurians were keeping tabs on Inter goalkeepers Filip Stankovic and Andrei Radu. But in the end, Pirlo decided to entrust the young Paolo Vismara with the starting gloves.

Nevertheless, the two clubs managed to agree on Ebenezer Akinsanmiro’s loan move.