Barcelona, Milan and Amorim all chase Sporting captain Gonçalo Inácio as €60m exit looms

Barcelona sporting director Deco travelled to Lisbon and met with representatives of Sporting CP captain Gonçalo Inácio, according to Goal and Portuguese broadcaster Now Canal, as the 25-year-old centre-back moves closer to leaving the Alvalade. Inácio was an unused substitute for the entirety of Sporting’s league match against Alverca on Sunday, with manager Rui Borges reportedly making the call in anticipation of a transfer that could be completed within hours.

Barcelona have placed Inácio on a defensive shortlist alongside RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba, with journalist Gerard Romero reporting the club’s interest. Deco was said to have met Inácio’s representatives, including Miguel Pinho of the AS1 agency, the day before the Alverca fixture. No formal offer from Barcelona has been detailed in the reports.

AC Milan have long tracked the Portuguese defender, and the competition for his signature extends to Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, who coached Inácio during his time at Sporting and is said to regard him as his preferred centre-back target this window.

Inácio came through Sporting’s academy and has been a first-team fixture since 2020, captaining the side this season after Maxi Araujo wore the armband in his absence against Alverca. The club have already allowed Morten Hjulmand to join Atletico Madrid and Ousmane Diomandé to move to Nottingham Forest this summer, but are not considered willing to part with Inácio cheaply despite a €60 million release clause in his renewed contract.

Sporting’s stance on that clause is expected to be a central factor in any negotiation. With Barcelona, Milan and Amorim’s side all in the picture, the coming days are likely to determine whether Inácio remains in Lisbon or becomes the club’s third high-profile departure of the transfer window.