Inter Milan coach Luciano Spalletti is confident keeping hold of Ivan Perisic.

The winger continues to be linked with Manchester United.

But Spalletti says: “Since the start, the club spoke with Ivan, as did I, he came and told us some things, because you need specific characteristics to stay here. We must all be ready to listen to how everyone else sees things.

“Perisic is a great player, in the vein of Giacinto Facchetti, Javier Zanetti and Marco Materazzi, a leader who gives something more than an individual usually does. After this initial discussion, I never had any more signals of a departure, in training or outside of it.

“Ivan is someone who has his own training schedule after the session is finished, working in the gym, and is one of the most professional players I've met. He does something that only those who have a real sentiment for the club will do, because he never holds back and works so hard for the team.

“Perisic is not just in the Inter project, he is one of those we need to follow and who will set the path we are moving towards.

“Mauro Icardi is doing well, but needs a few more days of training and some more playing time. If he doesn't manage to maintain his standards for 95 minutes, we'll balance it out."