Palacio and Nagatomo set to renew with Inter
Just a few months ago, both Yuto Nagatomo and Rodrigo Palacio looked set to leave the Giuseppe Meazza, as neither seemed to be a part of Coach Roberto Mancini’s plans, and both their deals were set to expire in June anyway.
Both barely played at the start of the season, as Palacio seemed to have lost out to the influx of Balkan playmakers, whilst the Japanese international looked to have been frozen out of the back-line, along with Danilo D’Ambrosio.
We all know what happened next, with Roberto Mancini shocking everyone by starting both Nagatomo and D’Ambrosio against Milan, as well as giving Palacio a bigger role in recent weeks, as countryman and star striker Mauro Icardi struggles to forge a partnership with Stefan Jovetic.
The duo has impressed Mancini so much, in fact, that both players look set to stay with the Nerazzurri into next season. Having been repeatedly linked to former club Boca Juniors, Palacio has expressed his desire to end his career in Italy, and Inter look set to oblige him by extending his contract another year- though this will come with a pay cut.
Nagatomo, for his part, is appreciated for his versatility on both flanks, and could benefit from an extension of up to two seasons, though the Nerazzurri will still listen to any interesting offers that are made in meanwhile.
Could this have anything to do with the fact that Nagatomo shares an agent with Samir Handanovic, and that the agent had been doing his best to include the Japanese international in any deal involving the goalkeeper?
We'll just have to wait and see!
