Amidst the major financial difficulties facing the club, Inter were forced to offer a major sacrifice to the transfer market gods. As if the departure of their charismatic manager Antonio Conte wasn’t a big enough blow, the Nerazzurri sold Achraf Hakimi to Paris Saint Germain despite the Moroccan being one of their three major stars – alongside Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez.
Therefore, the 22-year-old joins the list of players who were sold too soon by the Beneamata. But where exactly would he land in the Top 5?
5- Gabriele Zappa
At the tender age of 21 and with only one Serie A season under his belt, the jury is still out on Gabriele Zappa. Nonetheless, it must be said that the early indications suggest that the young wing-back has all the makings of a truly special player.
Inter allowed their youth product to leave the club towards Pescara in 2019, but last season, he sealed a move to Cagliari, and impressed with his attacking prowess, providing four league assists for his teammates.
Perhaps he could have been a useful addition for the club following the departure of their main right wing-back.
Gabriele Zappa: “I Left Inter Because I Didn’t Play For The First Team, Maicon Is A Reference Point For Me” https://t.co/oSWER3GNcZ #FCIM #ForzaInter #InterFans pic.twitter.com/R7Iuc43UPB
— SempreInter.com (@SempreIntercom) October 18, 2020
4- Xherdan Shaqiri
The curious case of Xherdan Shaqiri. The talented Swiss played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, but never truly found a home for himself.
The winger was afforded very little space during his early career adventure at Bayern Munich, and is currently facing a similar fate at Liverpool.
Nonetheless, the former Basel man was expected to be a pillar for an Inter side that lacked quality players back in 2015.
Whilst he contributed with three goals and two assists, he only lasted for six months in Milano, as the Italians immediately sold him to Stoke City in a shocking twist for all parties involved.
For a man who won more than ten major titles in top European leagues over the last eleven years playing for Liverpool, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, Stoke City might have been the only club where Xherdan Shaqiri was ever truly, seriously valued.
— The Tactical Times (@Tactical_Times) July 26, 2021
3- Achraf Hakimi
Economically speaking, Inter made a brilliant piece of business with Achraf Hakimi. The player was bought from Real Madrid less than a year ago for 41 million euros, and was recently sold to PSG for 60 millions, with the Italian champions making a significant profit.
However, football remains first and foremost a sport (at least according to our simple mind) and thus, allowing one of your key components to leave so early remains a questionable decision.
Perhaps the club’s hand was forced in this matter – with the alternative being selling either Lukaku or Lautaro – but regardless, Inter lost a player who could easily cement himself as the best wing-back in the world for years to come.
➡️ ???: Achraf Hakimi to PSG (£51.3m)
⬅️ ??: Hector Bellerin from #AFC (TBC, reportedly £17-20m)? Would this be decent business for #InterMilan?
Here's how the right-backs compare using their 20/21 respective league stats ?
— Sporting Life Football & Infogol (@InfogolApp) July 26, 2021
2- Nicolò Zaniolo
When the Beneamata signed Radja Nainggolan in 2018, most observers agreed back then that the management stroke a fabulous deal. After all, they secured the signing of one of the best midfielders in Serie A by splashing some cash plus the services of Davide Santon and some barely-known youth product.
The problem in that equation is that the latter turned out to be one of the best best young gems in his generation, and almost immediately established a name for himself at Roma. The Belgian veteran, on the other hand, seemed to be over the hill, and is spending most of his Inter stint trying to escape towards Cagliari on recurring loan deals.
Zaniolo has been unlucky to suffer two major ACL injuries which completely wrecked his last two campaigns, and yet, he remains of the most exciting names in the Italian capital.
HES BAAACCKKK ❤️??
FORZA NICO ??#Zaniolo #ASRoma pic.twitter.com/uV4YQZ2LyI— ST. LEONARDO ???????? (@ShaarawysBarber) July 25, 2021
1- Philippe Coutinho
You may roll your eyes at the current version of the Brazilian as he’s struggling to find his form since his enormous transfer to Barcelona in 2018, but we’re still talking about a unique football talent, and one that Inter allowed to leave for a ridiculously low fee.
Coutinho’s problem is that he arrived at the club in the summer 2010, at a time when the management struggled to find balance between aging veterans and new acquisitions in the post-Mourinho era.
The Nerazzurri lacked the patience back then, and sold the talented playmaker to Liverpool for just 7 million euros. Coutinho became one of the best players in the world during his time in the Premier League, and the Reds eventually sold him for an astronomical fee – circa 135 millions.
The Brazilian star might arguably be the biggest regret for both Inter and Barcelona, although for opposite reasons.
Philippe Coutinho – 17/18 pic.twitter.com/t61WBVKKt8
— ᴴ (@ohhecanhitone) July 25, 2021