The Revolving Door at Inter: Understanding the Transfer Window (Part 3 of 3)

Introduction

Due to the controversy caused by Inter’s market moves, I have decided to break down Inter’s Transfer Window in order to help fans of football understand why and how, Inter will maneuver through the final weeks of the summer in order to prepare not only for next season, but for a project to be continued for many years to come. Part I will cover Inter’s new footballing philosophy, and how this has helped to form their transfer policy. Part II will encompass the departures to be expected and why they are happening. Part III will look at the potential arrivals to Inter’s squad for next season.

Being as Part III will focus on arrivals, please understand that I will not be analyzing EVERY single name that has been linked to Inter. There are literally hundreds, and it would not make much sense to waste time on players that are not realistic for the club. This article will highlight the names that I believe are realistic targets for Inter, and that could be seen wearing the Black and Blue at the San Siro next season. Keep in mind that it is still early in the summer, and many more names may come up and be ruled out.

4 Main Characteristics of each transfer will be highlighted:

1) How it affects the Transfer Budget

2) How it affects the Wage Budget

3) How it affects the team’s Football Philosophy/Transfer Policy

4) How it affects the future of the position

Enjoy.

Goalkeepers

This is rather fitting as Inter have just signed Samir Handanovic. Inter have made a youthful upgrade in the form of the Slovenian goalkeeper, Samir Handanovic. Samir has been highly regarded in the footballing community as one of the best up and coming keepers in the world, and had he made the jump to a big club sooner, we may already be talking about how world class he is. Inter have shelled out €11 million plus the entire card of Marco Davide Faraoni for the player, who has reportedly signed a 4 yr contract at around €2 million per year. Regarding the transfer and wage budgets, Inter have been able to facilitate the move for the goalkeeper, who will cost less than keeping Julio Cesar at the club, through the clearing of some of the larger wages in the squad. Tactically, Samir will be expected to be starting from day one and will play the same role as Julio, except with a smaller leadership role. He is a veteran of Serie A (A pattern that will become apparent with Inter’s signings) and does not have to adjust to the league. His arrival fits in with the Football Philosophy of Inter because he is a younger player, as well as with their Transfer Policy as his wages are not excessive. The most overlooked aspect of this signing, is how it will affect the position of Goalkeeper in the future. Inter eventually want to hand over the reigns to their young Italian prospect, Francesco Bardi. By the end of Samir’s contract, he will be 32, and Bardi, will be 24. It becomes easy to see Inter’s ideas with signing a player who will be experiencing his prime years with the club, before handing the position of goalkeeper to a player who will be old enough (24) to accept a prominent role at the big club. Samir Handanovic’s arrival, is one that I believe will prove to be crucial for Inter going forward.

Defenders

Inter had needed Central Defender reinforcements following the departure of Lucio, and have recently signed Matias Silvestre on a Loan deal with right to purchase from Palermo. Silvestre adds to the argentinean contingent at Inter, and will provide quality and depth at a position that has lost its stability as the Samuel-Lucio partnership grew old, and Andrea Ranocchia failed to show his true colors in the past season. Silvestre is a tall, physical defender, who will likely partner Walter Samuel from day one. Much deserving of a big club, Silvestre has cost Inter a reported initial cost of €2 million with a further €6.5 million expected at the end of the season. This initial loan deal has allowed Inter to put more cash towards transfers set to take place this summer, while it’s affect on the wage budget is unclear yet, as he is not fully owned by Inter yet. Silvestre is 27 yrs old and holds an Italian passport, as well as being a veteran of Serie A (Again, no adjustment-to-league period). By the time Silvestre has peaked out, Inter’s young brazilian Juan Jesus, will be at a more mature age to lead the backline, with Andrea Ranocchia. The pattern of Inter purchasing players that are entering their prime final years, allowing the younger players to develop under their tutelage, continues with this signing, and In my opinion, it is a great move. Other central defenders that could be on their way to the Meazza are Alexis Rolin, and Marco Andreolli, but it is believed that only one of these names will arrive, ONLY if Inter sell Ranocchia to one of the big clubs that have set their sights on him (Juve, ManCity, PSG) but it is unlikely.

Inter’s other area of need defensively is in the Right/Left Wing Back area. Four names have been prominent in the reports for Inter recently and they are, Aleksander Kolarov of Man City, Mathieu Debuchy of Lille, Aly Cissokho of Lyon, and Sebastian Jung of Entracht Frankfurt. Aleksander Kolarov (26) was heavily linked to Inter early on in the summer, but interest from rival’s Juventus and Milan, as well as Man City’s initial asking price of at least €10 million + his high wages, has led to Inter cooling their interest on his front. Mathieu Debuchy (26) is continually being targeted, with Inter preparing to offer between €7-8 million for his services, but are waiting to see on his apparent desire to play in the Premier League with Newcastle before they make the commitment. Aly Cissokho (24) seems like a realistic option for Inter, as he has previously stated a desire to play in Serie A before (A failed medical scrapped a move to Milan last summer), but Lyon are looking for an offer in the region of €10 million for the player. Finally, Sebastian Jung (22) is liked by the scouting team at Inter,but Frankfurt are unwilling to let the player go this season, and it has been reported that Inter are seeking a first option to buy agreement with the German Club, in order to bring the player into the squad next year.

My prediction for the incoming defenders for the rest of Inter’s transfer window is that Inter pursue a deal for Cissokho, as well as move forward with their relations with Frankfurt for Jung. By bringing in a left back now, it allows Javier Zanetti to play out his final (my opinion) season with Inter as a starter in his preferred right back position, while making arrangements to bring in his successor in Sebastian Jung next season.

Midfielders

Midfield reinforcements have already begun as Fredy Guarin was acquired permanently for €11 million, and MacDonald Mariga has returned. Andrea Poli, another player Inter is very familiar with, is currently being targeted on a permanent deal, and Inter are working with Sampdoria to close with the player in the next few days. Apart from the players who have spent time at the club, Inter are also expected to bring in some new blood to freshen the midfield. The name most reported has been Gaby Mudingayi (30) who is expected to sign for Inter within the next week, as Bologna’s president and the player’s agent have confirmed that a move is to be made. The transfer fee is reported to be around €2 million + half/loan of Juan Jesus, with the player close to signing a 2-3 yr deal. Mudingayi, a veteran of Serie A (is anyone else seeing this?) is known as a work-horse in the middle of the park with great defensive awareness, as well as crossing ability. This deal would not put a major dent in Inter’s transfer/wage budget, and would allow for further spending the strengthen the team. His experience will cover for Stankovic’s possible departure, and will be an option for Stramaccioni in the 4-2-3-1 alongside Cambiasso/Guarin, or in a 4-3-3 as the defensive force sitting in front of the defense. As with Handanovic, the most overlooked aspect of this transfer is that it allows Inter to let Lorenzo Crisetig(19) gain first-team experience away from the club, and when Mudingayi’s contract runs out in 2-3 yrs, Crisetig will have gained the experience, and will be mature enough to take his place in the side. Another move that allows Inter to experience the prime years of a player, before inserting a younger option into his position.

With the addition of Mudingayi, and the impending arrival of Poli, Inter do not need much more in the middle of the park. The club is being continuously linked with names such as Fernando of Porto, Nigel de Jong of Man City, and Yann M’Vila of Rennes, but the only name that is being pursued with strong intent is that of Paulinho (23) of Corinthians. The versatile Brazilian youngster is a major talent in South America, and although he has claimed he is content to stay in Brazil, he only made these statements after Inter appeared to pull out of the race for hi signature. The fact of the matter is, that Corinthians only own 10% of the player’s card. They have said that they will absolutely not sell, but the truth is that they are seemingly powerless to a transfer in any case. It has been reported that Inter will conclude an €8-9 million deal for the player by the end of the week. Another injection of energy and life into Inter’s midfield is expected to bring a faster, more fluid squad. I expect Inter to end their midfield reinforcements with the signings of Mudingayi, and Paulinho.

Attackers

Inter have taken this transfer window to revamp their offense. Their first major signing of the summer came in the form of Argentinean wide forward, Rodrigo Palacio (30), in a deal reported to be worth €11 million. Palacio has been one of Serie A (there’s no way you have missed it this time) most electrifying players in recent seasons and was coveted by Inter’s former coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Palacio is a goalscoring machine with good pace and a knack for finishing, that Stramaccioni wants to fill in one of the wide forward positions in his 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formations. Palacio will command higher level wages, but nothing that Inter will struggle to afford. Another understanding of this deal, is that when Palacio is past his prime, Luc Castaignos and Coutinho, will be ready to occupy his position. Rodrigo is highly regarded by his teammates, and is truly a must-watch talent in Serie A.

Giampaolo Pazzini’s expected departure will be used to facilitate the transfer of another one of Inter’s most coveted targets, Mattia Destro (21). Destro is the hottest name in Italy, and for good reason. He is an intelligent, crafty, poacher-type forward, whose talent was on full display this past Serie A season. He is a product of Inter’s youth system, and is currently co-owned by Siena and Genoa, and is being followed by Juventus, Roma, Milan, and PSG. His valuation has been set at €12 million but hopefully Inter’s good relations with Genoa can lead to a reduced transfer fee. It is widely expected that Inter’s next move will be to finalize the Pazzini/Destro situation so this saga could find a resolution within the next 2 weeks.

Although Inter have been linked with multiple offensive targets, Sao Paolo’s Lucas Moura is the only other name that will be receiving considerable attention. Lucas has long been admired by Massimo Moratti, and has been followed by Inter for over a year. Brazilian clubs tend to handle situations in which their top prospects are being followed by European clubs as hostage situations, where they demand ridiculous sums of money for players that they describe as the best ever of all time even at a young age. It is tragic, because they often put the player in a situation where they make them believe that Brazil is the best place to develop as a player, when in reality, Europe is the place to be. All the big time Brazilian players urge the youngsters to move to Europe, but the Brazilian club presidents try to convince them otherwise. The truth is that these negotiations will not be easy, and the chances that Inter acquire Lucas, and hold onto Wesley Sneijder, are very slim. Inter’s only shot at making a trasnfer for Lucas, would be to finance the move through the sale of Sneijder, and the backing of Pirelli. In my opinion, a 19 year old who is unproven at a European level, is not worth the close to €40 million that Sao Paolo are demanding, and is especially not worth losing the fulcrum of our offense in the form of Wesley Sneijder. Lucas Moura may one day be an Inter player, but I do not believe we will see him in the Black and Blue this summer.

Conclusion

I have thoroughly enjoyed bringing you my opinions regarding Inter’s new footballing philosophy, and Transfer Market policy. I understand that many Inter supporters have been unsure of what exactly Inter are doing on the transfer market, and how exactly their moves are supposed to be benefitting the team, and I hope that I have been able to shed some light on the questions, and show that Inter really are moving forward in a positive direction. The club can make all the right moves no matter what, but they still need two things. Time is one of them and is very crucial. All great things take time. The second is, the support of their fans. This is a call to all the supporters of Inter. Rally behind your team, speak positively of the club you love, and strike fear into the hearts of the Juventus and Milan supporters with our strength. Divided we will fall, United we will conquer.

Forza Inter.

Per Sempre.

@TuttoFCInter

The Revolving Door at Inter: Understanding the Transfer Window (Part 2 of 3)

Introduction

Due to the controversy caused by Inter’s market moves, I have decided to break down Inter’s Transfer Window in order to help fans of football understand why and how, Inter will maneuver through the final weeks of the summer in order to prepare not only for next season, but for a project to be continued for many years to come. Part I will cover Inter’s new footballing philosophy, and how this has helped to form their transfer policy. Part II will encompass the departures to be expected and why they are happening. Part III will look at the potential arrivals to Inter’s squad for next season.

Goalkeepers

Well, this one is pretty straightforward. Today, Udinese President Pozzo has announced that Samir Handanovic will go to Inter, with the player signature and medical the only things to be taken care of before a deal is closed. Obviously this means that Inter now have the opportunity to continue to reduce their wage bill under FFP regulations with the departure of their goalkeeping talisman, Julio Cesar. Unfortunately for both parties, it is time to move on. Inter are now a club that promotes a youthful setup, and does not pay high wages, especially to aging players. Julio is a player in his early 30’s, entering the final stages of his career, and hoping to be part of a final big contract before his time is up. It is clear why this relationship has come to it’s end.

Julio’s departure is very complicated though. He has stated that he has no intention of leaving, and his wife has slammed the club as disrespectful. Inter will definitely not have his wages on the books if they have to pay for another Number 1 in Handanovic, so a solution must be found. Many of the top european clubs that can handle Julio’s wages already have top keepers. Two clubs come to mind as teams needing a top flight keeper, in Tottenham and Milan. Andre Villas-Boas knows Julio from his time at Inter but it is unlikely that Spurs make a move for him, though it would make sense. Inter would never sell Julio to Milan and they are in a financial crisis that would mean suicide for them to take on his wages. The most likely scenarios are some sort of contract termination, similar to Lucio’s, that would allow Julio to sign elsewhere, or a Brazilian club swooping in for a reasonable transfer fee. Best for Inter would be to sell him to a Brazilian club in order to get some transfer revenue, but if my money was on it, I would say that Inter and Julio terminate their contract, then Julio signs for a Brazilian club, such as Flamengo. Only scenario in which he stays with the club, is if he decides to take a pay cut, and work behind Handanovic in the “Toldone” role. This situation needs to be resolved soon, but the complications are many.

Defenders

Defensively, Inter have much to sort out. Getting Lucio’s contract off the books (He was aging, asking for a lot of money, and man, did he look awful at times last season) was a good move and they must continue to move a couple of other parts. Maicon has been wonderful for Inter throughout his stay in Milan, but his situation mirrors Julio Cesar’s exactly. However, he is much easier to move. Maicon has always seemed to be ok with the fact that he will one day leave Inter. His decision to stay on last year was admirable and he showed his eagerness to help the team. This summer he is also showing his will for the best for the club and understands that his departure is best for the team. A reunion with Mourinho seemed likely at one point, but now it seems that Maicon is headed to Stamford Bridge with Chelsea for a fee of around 8m (Much lower than what Inter could have gotten for him 1-2 years ago, but the time was not right to sell). The important part of this departure is that Inter not only clear wages off the books, they also receive some sort of transfer fee, not like the Lucio departure. Another Defender on his way out of the San Siro is Marco Davide Faraoni. After a breakout season, the Wing Back/Wide Midfielder hybrid is expected to be included in the deal for Samir Handanovic on a Co-Ownership. Inter will have 50% of his rights, and he will play for Udinese next season. Eventually, the two sides will have to decide who gets the full rights to the player, and I hope Inter retain him because he is young, talented, and Home-Grown (Those damn UEFA rules). The Two Brazilians, Juan Jesus and Jonathan, could also leave Inter this summer. Before Maicon was expected to leave, It was thought that Jonathan was surplus to requirements, but he may stay this season to provide cover to the right wing back spot. As for Juan Jesus, he’ll need some Seria A experience and playing time. He’ll find it hard behind Samuel, Ranocchia, Chivu, and possibly Matias Silvestre. My thought is that he goes on loan to Bologna, who seem very interested.

In my opinion, re-signing Chivu was a mistake. he has repeatedly proved he can no longer compete at a top level. Stramaccioni has assured him that he will be used at Center Back but I hope Ranocchia, Samuel, and Silvestre (any day now, hopefully) keep Chivu on the bench. Manchester City, Juventus, and PSG have all been linked to Ranocchia, but what a mistake that would be to sell him. He’s a youthful Italian with talent. We need him. He also fits into Inter’s new policy so I expect him to stay.

Midfielders

More departures are expected in the midfield as well. We will start with Dejan Stankovic. Stankovic has been a loyal servant to Inter for many years, and is the definition of a team player. Inter are in a rebuilding phase, and Stankovic is the sort of veteran presence in a midfield that would be beneficial to have to guide the younger players. That is why I am so torn over his departure. I understand Inter’s ideas, and being 33 years old, with a contract worth around 5m, does not help Stankovic’s case. West Ham are interested but I am skeptical as to whether a deal gets done. I do not know if West Ham can afford his wages and if Stankovic has interest in them. They seem to be the only club interested at the moment, so for now thinks are looking pretty bleak regarding his departure. He wants to stay and probably will in a reduced role. McDonald Mariga has returned from his loan spell and is currently an Inter player. McDonald is a tenacious midfielder, that is not particularly good offensively, and not particularly good defensively. So what to do with him? Well, Stramaccioni has yet to experience him as a squad member, so he may keep him on as reinforcements for the fall, and then ship him out in the winter. It is more likely that the Inter management actively pursue a transfer for him, but they have other priorities as of right now, and will probably wait until Stramaccioni has trained with him and see what he says, before shipping him out. I expect him to leave towards the end of the window.

Cambiasso has been linked with a number of turkish clubs with money, but he is in Stramaccioni’s plans and is exactly the veteran presence in the midfield that Inter wants. His wages are particularly hindering and I expect Inter to keep him on. Sneijder  has the most expensive wages on the team, but I will not spend much time discussing a possible departure for him. I said last summer that he would not leave Inter despite the constant stream of people telling me I was crazy and that Manchester United were too big of a club too turn down, but I honestly believe he will stay this summer as well. Think about it, if Inter’s intentions were to sell Sneijder, there would be no reason to offload Maicon, or Julio Cesar as well. Choosing to offload Maicon and Julio Cesar tells me that they have no intention of selling their star man. They simply do not need to at this point. Why go through all of the hassle that the Julio Cesar debacle has brought, when it would probably be much easier to sell Sneijder to the highest bidder? The answer is because Moratti believes in Sneijder. Stramaccioni found a place for Sneijder in his team last season. Sneijder has stated that he believes in Stramaccioni. In my eyes, Wesley will stay in the Black and Blue. Let’s hope my eyes are good.

Attackers

Offensively, Inter have a lot of moving parts. Diego Forlan should be the first to go. He was often injured, and when he did play he was miserable. Stramaccioni seems to rather have money to spend on a replacement instead of keeping Forlan until the end of the year, and I think Inter will find a suitor. Forlan is liked by many South American clubs, and has stated that he wants to play closer to his home in Uruguay. Good Riddens, Forlan will likely be playing in South America next season. The other major potential departure is that of Giampaolo Pazzini. Pazzini had a rough season last time around, and Milito’s good form rarely gave Pazzini the opportunity to bounce back. Samuele Longo’s rise, and Mattia Destro’s outstanding season, has led to Inter reconsidering whether they will hold onto Pazzini for the upcoming season. Pazzini is one of the top earners at the San Siro and clearing his wages would allow for more maneuvering on the transfer market. He is difficult to move however, as their does not seem to be a ton of interest outside of Lazio (their interest has died down) and Sampdoria (a return is difficult with his wages/fee). It would be good for Inter to sell him in order to receive some more funds, but his situation is similar to Stankovic’s as their is not much interest, and the teams that are interested may be face with an unrealistic situation. I will not make a concrete prediction until the Destro situation with Genoa and Siena is resolved. If Genoa gets Destro, then I believe Inter will pursue him, meaning Pazzini is out.

The other name mentioned as departing is Luc Castaignos. The young dutchman was put in a tough situation, as he was very young for the league and needed time to adapt. Unfortunately, he did not get the playing time to develop. Inter should have loaned him out to a smaller club upon his arrival last summer, and I believe they made a mistake in not doing so. He has grown unhappy, and has stated that he only wants to play for Inter if he is to stay in Italy, which hinders Inter’s plans to loan him out to an affiliated club such as Genoa, Bologna, or Chievo. Feyenoord (Loan) and well as West Ham(8m) are interested, but I think Inter should spend time convincing him to stay in Italy on loan to a different club. He is not a major earner, and selling a player with his youth and potential brings back shades of Santon and Balotelli, who’s departures in hindsight, do not look very good now. Inter should make an effort to hold onto his rights and loan him out. If Forlan leaves, and Inter do not pick up another Forward, then I believe they will retain Castaignos.

Coutinho was linked with a move to Udinese, as part of the Handanovic deal, but Inter refused, and he looks set to stay following a promising loan spell at Espanyol. Samuele Longo also looked to be heading to Genoa earlier in the summer, but Inter have signed him on full, and want him to be a part of the first team.

Revenue

Let’s take a look at the potential revenue caused by these departures:

Julio Cesar – 23m contract value + termination = +23

Dejan Stankovic – 5m contract value + 2-3m fee = +8

Giampaolo Pazzini – 11.5m contract value + 8-10m fee = +21.5

Diego Forlan – 9.75m contract value + 3-4m fee = +13.75

Maicon – 15.75m contract value + 8m fee = +23.75

McDonald Mariga – 1.7m contract value + 2-3m fee = +4.7

Luc Castaignos – 3.2m contract value + 8m fee = +11.2

Marco Davide Faraoni – 1.7 contract value (Inter pays half) = +.85

TOTAL REVENUE = 106.75m

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A FIGURE RECEIVED FROM POTENTIAL REVENUE IF EVERYTHING WAS TO GO INTER’S WAY.

THIS IS BY NO MEANS WHAT IS GOING TO OCCUR.

Just having fun.

That is all for Part II. Part III will look at the potential arrivals to Inter’s squad for next season.

Follow me on Twitter @TuttoFCInter , and feel free to talk to be about all things football related.

Thanks.

The Revolving Door at Inter: Understanding the Transfer Window (Part 1 of 3)

Introduction 

Due to the controversy caused by Inter’s market moves, I have decided to break down Inter’s Transfer Window in order to help fans of football understand why and how, Inter will maneuver through the final weeks of the summer in order to prepare not only for next season, but for a project to be continued for many years to come. Part I will cover Inter’s new footballing philosophy, and how this has helped to form their transfer policy. Part II will encompass the departures to be expected and why they are happening. Part III will look at the potential arrivals to Inter’s squad for next season.

Change in Footballing Philosophy

Following Inter’s Treble win in 2010, Jose Mourinho left the club for Real Madrid. This single action was the turning point for Inter’s future. Without the manager that he had truly trusted and probably the only man that he had ever given free reign over the management of the club, Massimo Moratti began to make significant changes and restrictions upon the club. After appointing Rafael Benitez, Moratti chose not to pursue the targets Benitez asked for, and implored Benitez to continue to win with the aging stars that were left over from Mourinho’s reign. Benitez failed miserably, and the coaching carousel continued. Moratti gave Leonardo a healthy transfer budget for the Winter transfer window, and Leonardo was able to right the ship and close out Inter’s season with a Coppa Italia win. Unfortunately for Moratti, Leonardo left the club to eventually join a project at PSG (to be subsidized by Middle Eastern Riches) and Moratti was once again forced to appoint a new coach. The club had been in the midst of a financial turmoil and Gian Piero Gasperini was given the task of leading Inter, but had to deal with a miserable summer saga that included Eto’o’s sale to raise funds, and the Wesley Sniejder transfer rumors that will remain legendary for many transfer window’s to come. One of the most dramatic time’s in the club’s history led to one of the worst starts to a season that the club had ever had. Moratti limited Gasperini’s transfer budget and the coach failed to sign the targets that he had requested. A makeshift squad that was supposed to contend had fallen apart. Claudio Ranieri was hired to fix Gasperini’s mistakes, and had done fairly well, until Moratti sold Thiago Motta to PSG. Ranieri’s team spiraled out of control and Moratti’s hand was forced once again. Only this time, something incredible was happening within the organization.

Although the first team was struggling, Inter’s academy had been experiencing the greatest period of growth it had seen in years. Andrea Stramaccioni had created a devastating force of a team in the Primavera, and his work had not gone unnoticed. Moratti handed Stramaccioni the keys to the first team, and told him that he had until the end of the season to prove that he could lead the first team. Stramaccioni led Inter to their best performances all season, which culminated in Inter’s 4-2 derby defeat of AC Milan. Although they failed to qualify for the Champions League, Inter had been left with two things that they had not seen since Mourinho’s time; A young, modern, progressive coach with a gift for communicating with his players (Veterans Milito, Zanetti, Cambiasso, and Sneijder, all gave riveting endorsements of Stramaccioni, and pleaded for him to be installed as the permanent coach), and a strong foundation of youth players with exciting future’s.

Andrea Stramaccioni is the focal point for Inter’s new footballing philosophy. His tactics and ideas are different from Inter’s previous philosophy of very direct play with a rigid formation and focus of defensive solidarity and capitalization of chances created from the counter. Stramaccioni promotes a more attacking game, with fluidity and focus on possession. Although the club’s footballing philosophy has changed, Moratti has put his belief in Stramaccioni because of the promise shown by Inter’s academy to be able to adapt to Stramaccioni’s method.

Inter will look very different next season, but for good reason. Fans of Inter can hope to see a team with greater attacking intent, and a knack for keeping possession.

Transfer Policy

FINANCES – Many Italian Clubs have been forced to change their transfer policies in recent years as their has been a significant decline in financial status. Inter have not escaped this situation, and in recent years, they have been forced to sell off stars such as Samuel Eto’o and Thiago Motta, in order to balance the books. Moratti seems determined to revamp the squad for the upcoming season, but has chosen to do so by funding the arrivals via transfer revenue gained from departures. Moratti is keen on keeping the squad strong, whilst selling individuals with high market value (ex. Pazzini), and by clearing the high wages off the books (Lucio, J.Cesar, Maicon). This transfer revenue, along with the usual personal cash injection from Moratti, will fund the rest of Inter’s summer projects.

AGE – Age has easily been the most controversial aspect of Inter’s transfer window. Many fans of football are puzzled by Inter’s seemingly “hypocritical” moves this window, and I am here to set the record straight and clear up the confusion. Inter’s supposed youth movement is in fact taking place, however, a switch over to a more youthful side can not happen straight away. Inter’s best prospects are still years away from being ready to lead the club to challenge for silverware. Samuele Longo and Coutinho are exciting prospects, but can they lead the front line of a major club yet? No, of course not. Inter must find the right balance of experience and youth in order to stay at the top of Europe’s elite, as their younger stars develop into World Class players. Inter must have players in the squad who are 30+ that can help guide the younger players. It is a matter of determining WHICH older players to have within the squad. Inter have placed J.Cesar, Maicon, and quite possibly Stankovic, on the market, as well as terminating Lucio’s contract, because of their wages. Clearing their salaries off the books allows Inter to continue to develop the team and spend the money elsewhere. Understanding this makes it easier to see why signing Rodrigo Palacio, and Gaby Mudingayi (almost a done deal), both players who are 30 years of age, was done by the management. They have signed veterans of Serie A, who do not command high wages, and are still capable of performing at a high level. Inter brought in the experience first. The club has their experienced foundation in Milito, Cambiasso, Zanetti, Samuel, Chivu, Palacio, and Mudingayi. Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Stankovic, and Pazzini’s wages are all expected to be cleared off the books. Inter fans will see in the coming weeks that the club will be linked to players under the age of 27 for the rest of the transfer window. This is where the youth movement will continue.

POSITIONS – The impending departures discussed above will lead to Inter searching for youthful (27 years of age and under) replacements. Goalkeeper, Left/Right Wing Back, Central Midfield (with a defensive focus), Central Defender, and Attacker (on the wing, and centrally) will be the positions that Inter focuses on, and will be covered in greater detail in Part 3 – Arrivals.

That is all for Part 1. Part II will encompass the departures to be expected and why they are happening. Part III will look at the potential arrivals to Inter’s squad for next season.

Follow me on Twitter @TuttoFCInter , and feel free to talk to be about all things football related.

Thanks.

News and Notes 6/9/12

Samuele Longo

An eventful day for the Internazionale organization, as the Primavera squad triumphed 3-2 over Lazio to become the champions of Italy.

SWEET VICTORY

Goals from Marko Livaja, Nicola Garritano, and Samuele Longo, lifted Daniele Bernazzani’s boys to victory as they continued an incredible week that also saw them defeat Milan in overtime, 4-3.

The focus of the match was squarely on Samuele Longo. The young Italian striker has seen his stock sky-rocket within the past week, as his performances are leaving many to call for a first-team spot for him next season. As impressive as he has been, Longo is still a teenager and has much to do before he can be considered as a possible replacement for an aging Diego Milito. One thing is for certain, the boy has done enough to persuade many within the football community that he is the next big thing in Italian football.

TRANSFER MARKET BEGINS TO HEAT UP

Many interactions on the transfer market took place today as Inter has begun to focus on it’s targets as it prepares bids to make once Euro 2012 is complete.

The day began with news that Inter are no longer following three major transfer targets; Lavezzi, Isla, and Verratti. Inter decided to move onto other players as they have realized that Lavezzi (PSG), Isla (Juventus) and Verratti (Juve/Pescara) are close to completing deals with other clubs. Better for the club to pursue realistic targets, than to focus on players that are set on moving to other clubs.

Regarding current negotiations, it seems as though Inter will make one last attempt to sign Lucas Moura, however this time, they will use financial backing from main sponsor, Pirelli, to secure the deal. Sao Paolo is said to have an interest in Diego Forlan, Lucio, and Julio Cesar, who is said to only be considering a move back to Brazil if he is to leave Inter. It appears as if this transfer saga will continue for the coming weeks.

Inter and Palermo are said to be roughly 2 million apart in negotiations for Matias Silvestre, who is also being followed by Milan. Stramaccioni is said to be a great admirer of Silvestre, and is being targeted to replace Lucio.

Giovinco is a major target for Inter and negotiations have opened up with Inter offering Juan Jesus, Marco Davide Faraoni, and cash for the player. Parma are insisting that Coutinho be included in the deal but Inter are adamant that the diminutive Brazilian will stay with them.

Inter are pulling out of the race for Acerbi for now, as they are intending to close negotiations for teammate Andreolli which have hit a minor snag. It is believed that Chievo and Inter will reconvene to complete the deal.

Nuri Sahin is still on Inter’s wish list, with Milan following the player as well. Inter are waiting for Sahin to soften his stance on leaving Madrid, which he may do as Mourinho has shown that he prefers other options.

Inter are reportedly unwilling to meet the 8-10 million demand for midfielder Paulinho, and will look to lower the asking price in the coming weeks.

Another midfield player is almost in the Black and Blue shirt as Gago appears to be on his way to Inter, with 6 million going to Real Madrid. The club is looking to offload the midfielder and Inter are interested.

WHO’S LEAVING?

Pazzini is believed to be on his way out, as Inter prefer to pursue Destro as their back up to Milito. Lazio are interested in the striker, who Inter want to gain at least 10-12 million in transfer fee.

Maicon has been linked with Real Madrid in the past few days, but it is unclear whether Mourinho wants to call upon the right back, as he had in past seasons. Cruzeiro were also interested but their president revealed that the player denied their advances. Corinthians were also interested but Maicon is unwilling to play his football back in Brazil, preferring to stay in Europe. Corinthians are also interested in Diego Forlan and Diego Milito but Inter rejected their advances.

Inter’s co-owned starlet Juraj Kucka is coveted by Fiorentina, and they will make an offer for Inter’s half.

NEW TARGETS

Inter are pursuing two defensive midfielders destined to leave their clubs; Lass Diarra, and Yann M’Vila. They will wait until after the Euros to continue their pursuit of them

Lucas Viatri is also being linked to Inter as a possible offensive target if they are unable to complete deals for Lucas Moura, and Gaston Ramirez, who is valued at 20 million by Bologna.

The agent’s of Zuniga, and Aly Cissikho have stated that Inter have shown interest in their clients as possible replacements for Maicon.

Debuchy revealed his strong desire to play abroad, intriguing Inter who are contemplating a 7 Million bid.

Finally, Nasri has been linked to Inter in a 25 million deal as Mancini is reportedly looking to offload the Frenchman to make room for more summer signings.

OTHER NEWS

Bologna and Inter have renewed their co-ownerhsip of Krhin who will stay with Bologna for the upcoming season.

Sneijder celebrated his 28th birthday with a brilliant performance against Denmark at Euro 2012. Unfortunately, his teammates poor finishing cost him multiple assists. De Jong, who is being targeted by Inter, also played well.

Stramaccioni attended the Brazil-Argentina match in the US in order to keep an eye on Lucas Moura, as well as Juan Jesus.

Well, that’s all for today.

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