Transfer deadline day: Inter Milan slam Arsenal over Perisic chase

Inter Milan boss, Luciano Spalletti, has criticised Arsenal’s brief pursuit of Ivan Perisic and says the Croatian winger had been “conned” by the Gunners.

Perisic handed in a transfer request, when he was made aware of Arsenal’s interest, missing the defeat against Torino and ordered to train by himself.

The Gunners, however, were only prepared to do a loan deal without a compulsory option to buy.

And Spalletti feels Arsenal’s interest was never entirely serious but it still unsettled the 29-year-old winger.

“There was this story on the market, but he is a professional, understands his role and yesterday it was already a very different mood.

“These things happen in the transfer window, the player received an impressive proposal and was tempted.

“However, he then realised it was not a true offer, that he’d been conned, and took a step back.

“Now he’ll resume training and as soon as his mind is back fully on Inter, we’ll let him play,” Spalletti told RAI Sport.