Palestra to Inter: verbal deal with Atalanta, bonuses left

Inter have reached a verbal agreement with Atalanta for Marco Palestra: according to Eurosport the deal is worth almost €50 million and the negotiation now comes down to the bonuses alone. Sky Sport and La Gazzetta dello Sport report a positive meeting between the clubs and an improved Inter bid, with the player having always preferred Inter to the Premier League offers.

The finish line is close. Eurosport writes that Inter and Atalanta have «a verbal agreement» for Marco Palestra, a deal «worth almost €50 million» in which «only the bonuses are still being discussed»; Fanpage, in its 18 June round-up, goes further and calls it «done for Palestra to Inter». Sky Sport too confirms the parties are «closer» after the latest contact with the Bergamo club.

The breakthrough came from a meeting described as «positive». La Gazzetta dello Sport's headline says «Palestra moves closer to Inter» right after the face-to-face with Atalanta, with the Nerazzurri's improved offer «ready»; Calciomercato.com adds that what is missing «for the definitive agreement» still has to be ironed out. In the evening Virgilio Sport, in its live blog, noted Inter's «improved bid for Palestra».

The key issue, even before the price, was the player's will. For weeks the move faced top-level competition: La Gazzetta dello Sport reported «Newcastle and Manchester City» calling, while Sky Sport spoke of «two Premier League giants on Palestra» and interest that also came from Chelsea. The line, though, never changed: Palestra «wants only Inter».

There were dissenting voices too — in early June Fantacalcio had written of a Palestra saying «yes» to City — but the talks with Inter kept moving forward. Three weeks ago Eurosport had already explained how the deal could be «unlocked» by Frattesi's situation, with Maresca's City ready to study the move should an opening appear.

The picture is now clear: verbal agreement reached, deal value put at around €50 million and the final stretch tied to the bonuses and to formalising the «definitive agreement». The detailed wage figures and the precise contract structure have not yet emerged in the news reported so far; once Inter and Atalanta have closed that chapter as well, Palestra will be able to become an Inter player in every respect.

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