Inter Milan president Giuseppe Marotta has opened the door to speculation regarding the winter transfer market, speaking frankly about reports linking veteran defender Francesco Acerbi with a move to Saudi club Al-Hilal, as well as the Italian club's desire to benefit from the services of Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo.
In recent media statements, Marotta confirmed his awareness of Al-Hilal's interest in his defender, saying, "I know that Al-Hilal is in dire need of a central defender, and the name being considered is Acerbi. We are open to evaluating the entire situation once negotiations become official and advanced in the coming period." Marotta did not hide the club's ambition to strengthen its squad with prominent players, noting the admiration of the management and coach Simone Inzaghi for Portuguese player João Cancelo.
A tough equation: Acerbi vs. Cancelo
The president of the Italian club explained that the main obstacle in the way of signing Cancelo lies in the financial aspect, as he stated: "Joao Cancelo's contract is very expensive, and there are not many clubs that can bear its financial burden at the moment. But, if we assume there is a scenario for a possible exchange or a combined deal, we know that Al-Hilal is looking for a defender, and we will evaluate everything based on the team's interest.".
General context and impact of the Saudi League
These statements come at a time when the Saudi Professional League (SPL) is experiencing significant activity in the global transfer market, with Saudi clubs becoming a preferred destination for many top European stars. Al-Hilal, competing on multiple fronts both domestically and continentally, is looking to strengthen its defense to ensure continued success in winning titles, especially given injuries and the pressure of a relentless fixture schedule.
Francesco Acerbi, 35, is considered one of the pillars of defense in Italian football, as he has extensive international experience and a high ability to position himself and lead the back line, which are qualities that Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus is looking for to strengthen Al-Hilal's defenses.
Inter Milan's financial challenges
On the other hand, Marotta's comments reflect the financial reality of Serie A clubs, which now rely heavily on shrewdness in managing the transfer market. This involves selling players for good prices and reinvesting the proceeds in quality signings or securing affordable loan deals. The Cancelo deal is a dream for Inter Milan to strengthen either the right or left flank, given his high tactical versatility, which suits Simone Inzaghi's 3-5-2 formation. However, the player's high salary remains the biggest obstacle unless other parties intervene to facilitate the transfer.
