Federico Dimarco commitment leaves Barcelona’s left-back plans in doubt

Inter Milan have ruled out the possibility of Federico Dimarco joining Barcelona, with club president Giuseppe Marotta declaring that the Italy left-back is not available for transfer.

Marotta’s statement threatens to end a proposed swap deal involving Dimarco and Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde, with the transfer window due to close within hours.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Barcelona had explored the possibility of sending Balde to Inter Milan in exchange for Dimarco as they looked to reshape their options at left-back. The position remains a concern for the Catalan club despite the arrival of Joao Cancelo.

However, Marotta made Inter’s position clear, saying Dimarco is “not for sale, and there is no intention of allowing him to leave in the near future”.

The 27-year-old is regarded as a key part of Inter’s plans and has established himself as one of the most important players in the squad. He has made 237 appearances for the club, scoring 26 goals and providing 52 assists.

That overall record includes eight goals and 18 assists last season, further underlining his importance to Simone Inzaghi’s side.

Inter’s determination to retain Dimarco is not based solely on his value on the pitch. The Serie A club are also seeking to extend his contract, which currently runs until June 2027, while increasing his annual salary from four million euros to five million euros.

The proposed improved terms would be intended to strengthen Dimarco’s long-term security at the club and reinforce his position within Inter’s project.

Barcelona’s interest in finding a solution at left-back remains, while Balde’s future at the club continues to attract attention. The Spain international has told Barcelona that he wants to remain with the team.

Balde was included in the squad for Barcelona’s meeting with Athletic Bilbao in the second round of La Liga, although he did not feature in the match.

Barcelona have been assessing their options in the final hours of the transfer window, with concerns over Balde’s performances last season contributing to the search for an alternative. The club’s interest in Dimarco represented one of the leading possibilities under consideration.

Marotta’s firm stance, though, leaves that route close to collapse. Unless Inter change their position, Barcelona will need to look elsewhere for a late answer at left-back, while Dimarco is set to remain at San Siro as the Italian club pursue a longer-term agreement with him.