Atletico Madrid Join Arsenal In Race For Serbia Starlet As Inter Milan Consider Buyback Move

Madrid have entered the scramble for Club Brugge revelation Aleksandar Stankovic, adding a fresh layer of intrigue to a transfer saga that already counts Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, RB Leipzig and Atalanta among the interested parties.

The 19-year-old Serbian midfielder has lit up both the Belgian Pro League and the Champions League this season, prompting Europe’s heavyweights to step up their monitoring of a player whose roots remain firmly planted at Inter Milan.

Inter negotiated shrewdly when they allowed Stankovic to leave for Brugge last summer, inserting a €23 million buy-back clause that can be triggered at their discretion, plus a 50 per-cent sell-on clause that runs until 2027 should they decide against re-signing him.

That clause is now under active review at the Nerazzurri’s headquarters, where sporting directors have tracked every pass, tackle and goal from the youngster once groomed in their own academy.

Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, reports that Atletico coach Diego Simeone has personally requested detailed scouting reports on Stankovic, whose father Dejan was a long-time team-mate of the Argentinian during their playing days.

The personal connection could prove persuasive, yet the player’s heart appears to lean elsewhere. Speaking to Sky Sport, Stankovic did not hide his affection for the club that shaped him:

“I dream of returning to Inter. Every Nerazzurri fan can understand that. I have a special relationship with Chivu.”

With Stankovic’s valuation rising by the week, Inter must decide quickly whether to bring their prodigy back to the San Siro or risk watching him flourish for a rival. The €23 million figure now looks modest compared with the fees being floated by Premier League and LaLiga suitors, and the 50 per-cent sell-on clause offers only partial protection if they allow the midfielder to move elsewhere.

A decision is expected before the summer window intensifies, as Atletico’s interest ensures the battle for one of Europe’s most coveted teenagers is only just beginning.