Lokomotiv Moscow has decided to now renew their deal with Joao Mario, a decision that has now been made official through an announcement on the club's official page.
The class of '93 midfielder will now return to Inter, who owns rights to the player. He arrived in Russia last summer on a free loan with the right to buy fixed at 18 million euro. Lokomotiv has decided to decline that option. While with the Russian club, Joao Mario appeared 22 times, scoring one goal and providing six assists.
Joao Mario thanked the club with the following statement on his Instagram: "I would like to thank everyone at Lokomotiv Moscow, from the President to the coaching staff, my colleagues and the fans, for making me feel at home during this season. It has been a pleasure to wear your shirt and to fight for your colours. I am leaving with a very positive feeling about the moments we shared together. All the best!"
Joao Mario arrived at Inter in 2016 with many expectations, but he struggled to adapt to Italian play. He was loaned out to West Ham in January 2018, then to Lokomotiv. He has appeared 69 times with Inter and scored four goals.
