Inter Milan Reject Barcelona's Bid for Federico Dimarco

Inter Milan have sent a clear message to Barcelona: hands off Federico Dimarco.

The Italian champions were jolted late in the transfer window when Barça moved for the left-back, even exploring a swap deal involving Alejandro Balde. The proposal never advanced, but it was enough to shake San Siro into action.

According to reports in Spain, Dimarco’s name surfaced on Barcelona’s shortlist in the final days of the market. Talks were held between the clubs over a straight exchange of the two full-backs. Then the trail went cold. No agreement, no breakthrough, just a warning shot that Inter took very seriously.

That interest triggered alarm inside Inter’s hierarchy. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the club have now accelerated plans to lock Dimarco down on a long-term contract running to 2030.

Dimarco, 28, is currently under contract until 2027, with an option for one more year. Inter did not immediately trigger that clause this summer, a delay that surprised the player after a standout season.

“I was expecting the club to call me to talk to me after what I did last year,” he admitted recently, making his frustration public and piling subtle pressure on the board.

Turning point in Madrid

The breakthrough came away from Milan. On the eve of Inter’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid, a key meeting took place in the Spanish capital.

New sporting director Dario Baccin sat down in Madrid with Arturo Canales, Dimarco’s agent. That summit, as reported in Italy, has pushed negotiations forward and is expected to speed up the formal agreement over an extension.

The talks are framed around Dimarco’s current net salary of 4 million euros. It is a significant wage, but one Inter consider justified for a player widely viewed as one of the top left-backs in the game.

Barcelona, though, are not walking away from the situation. They are monitoring how the renewal progresses, fully aware of their own shortage at left-back.

Hansi Flick has only one natural option in that position: Alejandro Balde. For now, Balde does not figure in the coach’s immediate plans, which leaves Barça exposed and searching for experience and reliability on that flank.

Dimarco fits that profile perfectly. He is in the prime of his career, battle-tested at the highest level, and technically suited to a possession-heavy side. That mix of quality and maturity is exactly what attracts Barcelona.

Inter, however, appear determined not to let him become the next star to slip away. The race is no longer about a transfer. It is about how quickly they can put 2030 in writing and close the door for good.