Rafinha future depends on Inter Milan

Brazilian midfielder Rafinha is happy at Internazionale which could turn his loan spell with the Italian football club into a permanent move, the player's father said.

Rafinha has made 14 appearances and provided three assists since joining the Serie A outfit on a six-month loan from Barcelona in January, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Milan club has the option of signing the 25-year-old for 35 million euros ($42 million) plus three million euros ($3.5 million) in add-ons this summer, according to the Lance news portal.

"He is happy at Inter and is playing well," Rafinha's father and agent Mazinho was quoted as saying by Brazil's Lance.

"Whether he stays depends on Inter Milan. It depends on whether the club qualifies for the Champions League and whether they are happy with him."

The Nerazzurri are currently fifth in the 20-team Serie A standings with three matches remaining in the 2017-18 campaign. The top four teams at the end of the season will qualify for next year's UEFA Champions League.

Rafinha has made a full recovery from a knee injury that forced him to miss eight months last year, according to former Brazil midfielder Mazinho.

The brother of Spain international midfielder Thiago Alcantara, Rafinha has been capped twice for Brazil and was a member of the national squad that won the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

--IANS

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