Inter Milan Beat Blaugrana to Sign Young Defender from Croatia

Gilabola.com – Inter Milan managed to move faster and beat Barcelona in their efforts to attract young players from Croatia in the transfer market this month.

Revealed SportInter Milan is currently far ahead of Barcelona in the hunt for the transfer of the talented 18 year old defender, Leon Jakirovic.

The Serie A club are now close to completing a deal for the player, effectively ending Barca’s hopes of bringing him to the Catalans.

Barcelona’s interest in Jakirovic is not coincidental. The reason is, director Deco continues to monitor the market, and the player is not only to strengthen the first team, but also the Barca Athletic squad.

Promotion to the RFEF First Division remains the clear goal, and adding quality players in defense was identified as a priority for the Blaugrana.

Jakirovic, who is seen as a modern centre-back with his powerful physique and composure on the ball, fits that profile perfectly.

Barcelona’s Financial Limitations

Once again, Barca’s financial realities are an issue, and although they have long been interested in Jakirovic, the Croatian defender will now join Inter Milan.

The deal between Inter and Dinamo Zagreb – who own the rights to the player, is complete.

According to reports, the deal is worth around 2.5 million Euros as a fixed fee, with an additional 2 million Euros included in bonuses based on his performances.

Jakirovic’s transfer to Inter Milan was quite notable, not only because they managed to beat Barcelona in the hunt for a player’s signature, but because they also managed to move faster than another club, RB Salzburg.

At Barcelona, ​​both the first and reserve teams remain heavily restricted by Financial Fair Play regulations.

Barca Athletic, in particular, cannot register new players unless they first reduce their wage bill.

These limitations make Barca unable to act decisively, even when they have clearly identified targets and are monitoring them extensively.

Jakirovic himself really wants to move. In fact, the young centre-back felt frustrated at Dinamo Zagreb after failing to make his debut this season, even though he was promised the role.

Jakirovic’s desire to leave immediately has accelerated negotiations with clubs capable of acting quickly – something Barcelona cannot do.

Statistics of Leon Jakirovic – player recruited by Inter Milan in the January 2026 transfer market

• Position: Center back
• Origin of the club: Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
• Status: Purchased by Inter Milan for around 2.5 million Euros plus bonuses and sell-on clause.
• Description: Recruited as a long-term investment in the Nerazzurri back line.

Our opinion

Inter Milan managed to beat Barcelona and brought in a new young player in the January transfer market, Leon Jakirovic, from Croatian club, Dinamo Zagreb. It is hoped that this 18 year old player will add depth to the Inter squad, especially in the back line.