Inter Milan chief hints at future of Manchester United loanee Alexis Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez could still have a future at Inter Milan, despite his forgettable loan spell from Manchester United so far, hints the club’s sporting director Piero Ausilio.

The 31-year-old joined the Serie A side last summer after falling out of favour at Old Trafford, linking up with Antonio Conte on a season-long loan.

It has not gone brilliantly for the Chilean, starting just two Serie A games and scoring one goal as he struggled for fitness and form.

It was not exactly the impact Conte would have wanted from the former Barcelona man, but Ausilio suggests that Sanchez still has the chance to prove himself and potentially extend his stay in Milan.

Responding to reports that Inter are interested in Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani, the sporting director dismissed that link as Sanchez is in possession of the black and blue shirt.

‘Edinson is not a priority simply because our attack is formed of [Lautaro] Martinez, [Romelu] Lukaku and Sanchez,’ Ausilio told Sky Sport Italia. ‘The latter, above all, now has the chance to show his worth and we will evaluate the situation.’

Sanchez will have the chance to prove himself from 20 June, when Serie A returns, as confirmed by Italy’s sports minister, Vincenzo Spadafora, on Friday.

What may prove to be Inter’s most pressing task of the summer is keeping hold of Martinez, with a number of clubs interested in the Argentinian, most notably Barcelona.

Ausilio has no intention of letting the 22-year-old go, unless any suitor matches his mammoth release clause of €111m (£100m).

‘We have invested a lot in him since he was very young,’ said Ausilio. ‘In these years, he has grown a lot and will continue to thanks to [manager Antonio] Conte, the system and a strike partner such as Lukaku.

‘He is an asset for the club. There is a clause which would see him leave if met, but the expiry date is July 7.

‘Inter have no need to sell, nor do we want to sell our best players. We want to reinforce. I know they [Barca] are [interested], but we have not entered any negotiation because they know our desire.

‘I envisage Lautaro here at Inter. Besides, he still has three years remaining on his contract.’

As far as Sanchez’s Manchester United future, the Red Devils are happy to offload him if they can and are thought to have offered him to Borussia Dortmund as a make-weight in a deal to bring Jadon Sancho to Old Trafford.

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