Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 6y

Javier Pastore priced out of Inter Milan move by Paris Saint-Germain demands

Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio says a move for Javier Pastore was a non-starter due to Paris Saint-Germain's demands.

The Nerazzurri were linked with Pastore throughout the winter transfer window, but the deadline passed on Wednesday night without the Argentine arriving.

Ausilio, who had earlier stated his admiration for Pastore, revealed how talks never proceeded beyond an initial enquiry.

"The conditions weren't there -- they never were -- and there were never any negotations," Ausilio told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "With this, I am not doubting the quality of the player, but as soon as our request of a loan did not meet the expectations of PSG, it was clear that there was no basis for negotiations, and I'd said this in recent days already."

Even without Pastore, Ausilio believes Inter will hit the targets they set at the start of the season. They signed Lisandro Lopez from Benfica and Rafinha from Barcelona last month to bolster a side already on course for a top-four finish and a return to the Champions League.

"We are aiming to get back into the Champions League and people can judge our transfer activities on the field," he added. "Right now, we are in line with our season's objectives, but we cannot sit back and settle for what we've got.

"We've done all we could -- we've brought in a central defender to complete that area of our squad and we've signed an outstanding midfielder who is going to be useful to the cause. We favoured the departure of certain players [Joao Mario and Yuto Nagatomo left on loan] who lightened our wage burden and brought in some money."

Meanwhile, Marcelo Brozovic, who was tipped to be sold on transfer deadline day, has stayed and Ausilio says there were "never any negotiations" to sell him, amid reports Sevilla had made a bid.

"There was interest from one club, but we didn't take it any further because [coach Luciano] Spalletti is counting on the player a lot," Ausilio said. "Brozovic will have the opportunity to play in the World Cup as Croatia's first-choice midfielder together with [Luka] Modric and [Ivan] Rakitic."

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