Inter and Marseille Agree on €40m Transfer for Valentin Carboni

A Detailed Analysis of the Loan with Option to Buy Move

Inter Milan and Olympique Marseille have reached an agreement for the transfer of Argentinian midfielder Valentin Carboni, with the player expected to undergo his medical in France on Monday.

Loan Details

Marseille will pay a €1 million loan fee for Carboni’s services for the 2023/24 season.

Option to Buy

The French club holds an option to purchase Carboni permanently next summer for a fee of €35-36 million, plus up to €4 million in performance-related bonuses, bringing the total potential transfer fee to around €40 million.

Inter’s Buy-Back Clause

Inter has negotiated a buy-back clause set at €40 million. This clause will only become active if Carboni impresses at Marseille and the French club exercises their option to buy. Inter will need to sign Carboni to a new contract expiring in June 2029 before completing the transfer.

Financial Implications

If Marseille activates the option to buy after the loan period, Inter will have effectively sold Carboni for €39 million, netting a significant profit on the €300,000 they paid to acquire him from Catania’s youth academy in 2020.

Player Profile

Valentin Carboni is a 19-year-old attacking midfielder who has already earned three senior caps for Argentina. He spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Monza in Serie B, scoring two goals and providing four assists in 32 appearances.

Strategic Move by Marotta

Inter President Beppe Marotta is widely regarded as one of the shrewdest transfer negotiators in football. This loan with option to buy deal is seen as a clever move that gives Inter several potential outcomes:

• If Carboni impresses at Marseille, Inter can sell him for a substantial profit and recoup the funds invested in other areas.
• If Carboni fails to impress, Inter can activate the buy-back clause and bring him back to Milan for the same price they sold him for.
• The loan spell will provide Carboni with valuable playing time and experience, potentially enhancing his market value.

Impact on Olympique Marseille

Carboni’s addition will bolster Marseille’s attacking options. The French club has struggled for consistency in recent seasons, finishing fifth in Ligue 1 last year. Carboni’s creativity, passing range, and goal-scoring threat could provide a much-needed boost to their midfield.

Conclusion

The transfer of Valentin Carboni from Inter to Marseille is a complex and intriguing deal. It represents a calculated risk by both clubs, with Inter balancing the potential for profit against the possibility of losing a talented young player, while Marseille seeks to improve its squad by acquiring a promising Argentinian international.