Inter Milan Squad 'Complete' Amid Luka Modric Transfer Rumours

Inter Milan director Piero Ausilio has said the squad is "complete" at the San Siro and dismissed links to Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric. 

The Italian club were rumoured to be interested in Modric throughout the summer, although the deadline for players to join clubs in Italy's top flight was August 17.

Speaking after the Nerazzurri's 2-2 draw with Torino on Sunday, Ausilio was asked about the interest in Modric by Sky Sport Italia (h/t Sacha Pisani of Goal). "Who? Let's talk about the game," he said, before going on to praise the squad put together for Inter boss Luciano Spalletti for this season.

"We're happy with the team we put together, as we tried to improve it and bring in elements we were missing, particularly in terms of experience and alternatives in attack to make us more unpredictable," said Ausilio. "I think the Inter squad is now complete."

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As noted by Pisani, Madrid are said to have lodged an official complaint to FIFA following their pursuit of the Croatia international.

Meanwhile, Modric himself recently said reports that he wanted to leave the European champions for Milan were "the greatest nonsense in history."

Inter had a summer of major investment ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, with high-profile players like Stefan De Vrij, Radja Nainggolan and Lautaro Martinez a few of the big names to join. However, they've been slow out of the blocks so far this term, with just one point taken from their first two games.

Getting off to such a poor start has been rare for the San Siro club in recent years:

Still, there's an understanding among the supporters that it will take time for these new signings to settle in, while the club also have the UEFA Champions League to look forward to this season.

Had they been able to get Modric in then you sense the start to the campaign would've been much slicker. The Madrid man has established himself as one of the finest footballers on the planet in recent years, helping Los Blancos to three Champions League titles in succession and Croatia to the FIFA World Cup final.

For Inter, it would've been a huge coup to get Modric on board, especially after Real sanctioned the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus earlier in the summer. After all, the Croatian has accomplished much during his time in the Spanish capital:

Having lost Ronaldo and manager Zinedine Zidane in pre-season, it was imperative Madrid kept hold of Modric. Barring a surprise January sale, it appears as though the club have been successful in that aim.

Inter may move again in midseason or ahead of next season, but the club is well stocked in midfield already and should be primed for an exciting year. If Spalletti can draw the best from longstanding key men like Mauro Icardi and Ivan Perisic along with a number of new acquisitions, they can thrive.