Milan, May 20 (IANS) Inter Milan vice-president Javier Zanetti on Wednesday claimed that the Italian football club is closing in on the signing of Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.
The Ivory Coast international is likely to leave City this summer after five years with the club. Inter, managed by former City coach Roberto Mancini, are reportedly leading the race to acquire the 32-year-old.
“We are at the stage where we hope we can complete it. Yaya would give us that leap in quality,” Zanetti was quoted as saying by forxsportsasia.com.
Zanetti also revealed Inter are keen to bring Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta back to the San Siro ground this summer.
The Italy international played three seasons for Inter before joining PSG in 2012.
“If Motta were to arrive, he could give so much,” Zanetti, who retired last year after playing 615 matches for Inter, said.
“He knows the club. He has experience, quality and is one of the strongest midfielders that I have ever played with. He is very intelligent. To bring players like them would give us that leap in quality.”
Toure, who is reportedly City’s highest earner on around 220,000 pounds per week, has scored 10 goals in 28 Premier League appearances for City this season.
The former Barcelona midfielder signed a four-year contract with City in April 2013.
Motta, meanwhile, is out of contract at PSG next season and has made 24 league appearances for the Ligue 1 champions.
Inter have endured a disappointing campaign but are hoping to qualify for next season’s Europa League.
The Nerazzurri are eighth in the standings, four points adrift of Genoa, who hold the last European qualifying spot with two games remaining.
