Serie A giants open door for Barcelona target’s January exit on one condition | OneFootball

According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, Inter Milan are prepared to part ways with Stefan de Vrij, but only under the clear condition that the Italian giants must secure a replacement at centre-back.

In recent days, De Vrij has emerged as a potential short-term solution for Barcelona, who are actively exploring market opportunities ahead of the January transfer window. 

With defensive depth becoming a growing concern, Barça are looking at experienced profiles who can arrive without a major financial outlay, and De Vrij fits that criteria well.

De Vrij’s situation at Inter has changed significantly over the past year. His contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and the club has already made it clear that a renewal is not part of their plans. 

Once a regular starter, De Vrij now finds himself on the fringes of the squad, featuring only sporadically and no longer considered a key figure in the project.

Difficult times for De Vrij

This decline in status has also had consequences at international level. With the World Cup fast approaching, De Vrij has lost his place in the Netherlands setup. 

At 33, time is no longer on his side, and a move where he can secure regular minutes is becoming increasingly important.

Stefan De Vrij is no longer a regular starter at Inter. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)

Despite the current situation, Inter are not willing to let him leave without covering themselves first. 

The club plan to enter the January market with defensive reinforcements as a priority and have already identified two centre-backs within Serie A as possible additions. 

Only if one of those deals goes through will De Vrij be allowed to depart.

For Barcelona, this creates a waiting game. While the profile makes sense financially and tactically, any move would depend on Inter completing their own business. 

Should that happen, De Vrij’s exit would be almost inevitable.

Whether Barça decide to take the final step remains to be seen, but the opportunity is there and January could provide a low-risk solution to a growing problem.