Inter Milan’s director, Piero Ausilio, has said that they found an agreement with Arsenal for Shkodran Mustafi, but the player said ‘no,’ hours after saying Arsenal wanted too much for him.

Inter attempted to pull off a late deal for the German, but found that Arsenal’s demands were too high – at least that’s how the story goes.

That’s was also according to club director Piero Ausilio. Speaking yesterday, he said: “The only negotiations we really entered into for a centre-back was Shkodran Mustafi, but when we saw his club’s demands, we let it go.”

But he is now being reported as saying, “There was agreement with Arsenal but not with the player.”

Arsenal reportedly wanted £35m for Mustafi, either up front or after a year-long loan spell.

That was the amount Arsenal parted with to bring Mustafi to the club last summer.

You’d think a club wouldn’t spend so much on someone if they weren’t convinced of his ability, but then Arsenal don’t seem to operate under the rules of common sense.

In a bizarre twist, it seemed Arsenal didn’t rate Mustafi all that highly and were happy to let him go the moment someone showed interest.

According to the Daily Mail, they had even identified a replacement for him: West Brom’s Jonny Evans, a player they tried to sign last summer before landing Mustafi.

One has to wonder what sort of mood Mustafi will be in after the deal to Inter fell through.

He’s clearly not rated at the club anymore, but must now continue playing for them.

While you’d expect him to put his head down and get on with it as a professional, there has to be concerns about his confidence.