OFFICIAL: Inter Milan complete Keita deal

Keita Balde Diao has signed for Inter on a season-long loan from Monaco, with the deal including a purchase option.

 

August 13, 2018

The Senegal star will move to the San Siro club initially on loan, which will cost the Serie A hopefuls €6 million.

Keita only moved to Monaco a year ago after a highly successful season with Lazio, in which he scored 16 Serie A goals but was left upset by actions behind the scenes.

While he was a regular starter for Leonardo Jardim’s side, he never truly recaptured that form in Ligue 1, despite scoring eight times in 33 outings.

Consequently, Monaco feel that the deal that Inter have offered is too good to refuse for a player they captured for €30m to replace Kylian Mbappe.

Agent Roberto Calenda has praised the Ligue 1 side for their treatment of the player.

“Monaco should be thanked,” he told 'La Gazetta'. “They gave Keita back his smile, his serenity and his carefree feeling after years of tension and promises being made and never kept by Lazio's management.

“I'm not surprised they let him leave: the deal will benefit everyone. The player still has the desire to explode in this country, where he grew up as a footballer. At 23, it's the perfect time to do it.

“Inter boss Luciano Spalletti is the perfect person at the perfect moment. He can make Keita make the definitive leap in quality.”

The principality side did not involved that forward in their 3-1 weekend Ligue 1 victory over Nantes, in which goals from Stevan Jovetic (two) and Radamel Falcao guided them to an opening day success.