Inter Milan Secure Federico Dimarco Amid Barcelona Interest

Inter Milan have moved to lock down Federico Dimarco after a late transfer-window approach from Barcelona jolted the Italian champions into action.

The Catalan club explored a deal for the left-back in the final days of the market, even discussing a swap involving Alejandro Balde, according to Spanish outlet Sport. Talks never advanced, but the enquiry was enough to trigger alarm at San Siro and accelerate plans for a long-term renewal.

From Barcelona flirtation to Madrid summit

Dimarco, 28, is currently under contract with Inter until 2027, with an option for an extra year. That clause, though, has remained untouched. The player himself recently admitted he had expected a very different summer after his standout campaign.

“I was expecting the club to call me to talk to me after what I did last year,” he said, underlining a sense of surprise that Inter had not immediately moved to extend his deal.

The wake-up call arrived from Spain. Once Barcelona’s interest surfaced and the possibility of a Balde–Dimarco swap was floated, the Nerazzurri shifted gear.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the turning point came in Madrid, on the eve of Inter’s Champions League clash with Real. New sporting director Dario Baccin met Dimarco’s agent, Arturo Canales, in the Spanish capital. That summit laid the groundwork for a fresh contract running to 2030.

The negotiations are being built around Dimarco’s current net salary of €4 million. It is a significant wage, but Inter see it as the going rate for a player widely regarded as one of the top left-backs in world football.

Barcelona keep watching

Barcelona, for now, are on the outside looking in. They have just one natural left-back in the squad, Alejandro Balde, and the youngster is not currently central to Hansi Flick’s plans.

That context explains why Dimarco’s profile is so attractive to the Spanish giants: a technically gifted full-back, proven at the highest level, and at a mature stage of his career rather than a long-term project.

Inter’s response has been clear. After a brief scare and a discreet round of talks in Madrid, they are moving to ensure that one of their key pillars on the flank remains in black and blue deep into the next decade. The question now is not whether Barcelona like Dimarco — it is how long they will have to watch him from afar.