Galatasaray eye Benjamin Pavard as Inter Milan weigh sale

The Turkish champions are pushing to lure the French defender, with Inter Milan setting their asking price as financial needs loom

Galatasaray’s luxurious projects could distract Benjamin Pavard from his current path. Focused on the 2026 World Cup, the 29-year-old French defender (55 caps, 5 goals) seemed more inclined to reconsider his future in a year’s time. 

He has a contract until 2028 with a substantial salary 5 million euros per year (£4.2 million net per year) and is a key player for Inter Milan.

He has been under Simone Inzaghi’s guidance (69 matches in all competitions over two seasons), although injuries have occasionally sidelined him—most notably at the end of the 2024-2025 Champions League campaign, when he missed the semi-final (3-3, 4-3 AET against Barcelona) due to ankle pain, before returning for less than an hour in the final defeat to PSG (0-5).

The change to new coach Cristian Chivu, as well as his starting role in the friendly against Monaco (2-1 last Friday), shows his status is not in doubt. 

However, the club is not completely closed to a transfer, given its fragile financial situation. Inter Milan could open the door for an offer between 15 and 25 million euros (£12.6 million and £21 million) for the player, who arrived in Lombardy for 30 million euros (£25.2 million excluding bonuses) two years ago.

After being approached several times by intermediaries to join the lucrative Saudi league, the defender closed the door on that option this summer, mainly with the North American World Cup in mind. 

Approaches from several clubs—especially English and Spanish sides not in the Champions League—failed to attract him.

Pavard torn between Inter Milan loyalty and Galatasaray ambition

Galatasaray, Turkish champions with immense ambitions this summer, are at least making him listen. After spending 75 million euros (£63 million) to sign Victor Osimhen outright and offering a 9 million euros (£7.6 million) net annual salary to Leroy Sané, who arrived on a free from Bayern Munich, the club—riding a wave of significant real estate profits—appears ready to make a major effort for the Frenchman.

Pavard still leans toward staying in Italy, but he is sensitive to the Turkish fervour. He has even attended local league matches in recent seasons. For now, Galatasaray have taken the lead should he leave before the Turkish market closes on 12 September.

Source: Fcinter1908