This summer, Giuseppe Marotta is at again. The transfer wizard is practicing his favorite craft – luring some of the finest players on the free agent market towards Inter. The Nerazzurri CEO gained fame by applying the same strategy at Juventus, with some his free signings changing the entire landscape of Italian football.
The Beneamata have already signed Henrick Mkhitaryan and André Onana, and are still in contact with Paulo Dybala. While it remains to be seen how this new signings will pan out, it’s time to rank some of the club’s most famous free agent coups based on the success found on the pitch.
NB: This list only includes signings from the past decade or so, and focusing mainly on the renowned names. So backup goalkeepers and unsung players (who never had a chance in the first place) were excluded from the list.
11- Caner Erkin (2016)
We begin with a signing that turned out to be utterly disastrous – though it wasn’t entirely the player’s fault. In 2016, Roberto Mancini identified Caner Erkin as the right profile to bolster the left-back spot.
The problem? The Italian tactician ended up leaving the club in the summer, and was subsequently replaced by Frank de Boer.
The Dutchman wasn’t an admirer of the Turkish fullback, and decided to send him straight back to Istanbul, denying him the chance to play a single competitive match at the Giuseppe Meazza, before getting the sack himself following a horrific start of the season.
10- Marco Andreolli (2013)
The former Chievo defender is a forgotten name nowadays, but in 2013, he earned the chance of a lifetime when Inter decided to sign him as a free agent.
Though he didn’t disgrace himself on the pitch, the center back was a far cry from the defenders who donned the black and blue jersey in the previous seasons (the likes of Lucio, Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba), and his presence summed up the club’s status during that period.
9- Nemanja Vidic (2014)
Once upon time, Nemanja Vidic was considered to be the consensus best defender in the world. The Serbian used to strike terror in the hearts of his opponents during his heyday at Manchester United.
But when he made the switch to Serie A, the center back had already lost a large chunk of his strength and composure, while Walter Mazzarri’s three-man backline only complicated matters for the Old Trafford hero.
Vidic eventually decided to hang his boots 18 months following his arrival to Inter.
8- Arturo Vidal (2020)
Inter fans love nothing more than teasing their arch-rivals Juventus. Thus, the arrival of Arturo Vidal was supposedly the perfect jab, as the midfielder is associated with some of the Bianconeri’s golden years.
Even though the Chilean did score against his former club in twist of fate, he has mostly been a tuned-down version of his former self, as his energy and stamina have long abandoned him.
7- Diego Godin (2019)
Inter signed one of the greatest defenders of his generation, but he was already on the decline at the time, and struggled to leave his mark in Serie A, especially in a three-man defense.
If Diego Godin’s story sounds familiar, that’s because it’s incredibly similar to Vidic’s time at Appiano Gentile.
The Uruguayan veteran eventually lost his starting spot in favor of the young Alessandro Bastoni, before leaving the club after a lone season.
Great player. Wrong timing.
6- Kwadwo Asamoah (2018)
In an unusual switch, Kwadwo Asamoah made a direct switch from Juventus to Inter – although as a free agent.
However, the Turin-based club didn’t make over it, as the Ghanaian was already a shade of his former self at the time, and had become a benchwarmer in Massimiliano Allegri’s court.
The former Udinese man was a regular starter during his first campaign under Luciano Spalletti’s watch, but his reunion with Antonio Conte was anything but glorious, as the tactician relegated his former pupil to the bench.
5- Hugo Campagnaro (2013)
From Sampdoria to Napoli, Hugo Campagnaro was a true Mazzarri loyalist. The latter simply appreciated the Argentine’s prowess, who had always been a key player in his three-man backline.
Therefore, the Italian manager unsurprisingly handpicked the center back to join him on the trip from Naples to Milano in 2013.
Perhaps his time at Inter was slightly less impressive than his previous stints in Calcio, but things could have gone worse for the Beneamata at the time if it wasn’t for the experienced defender.
4- Ever Banega (2016)
In hindsight, Ever Banega is mostly considered to be a flop for the Nerazzurri. Yet, his stats reveal a brighter-than-expected picture, as he had contributed with six goals and seven assists in his 33 appearances for the club. Not bad at all for a midfielder, especially during that largely-chaotic 2016/17 campaign.
Moreover, Inter ended up registering a capital gain from his return to Sevilla, after selling him for a profit one year following his arrival as a free agent.
3- Alexis Sanchez (2020)
Here’s another star who lands in a surprisingly-high spot on the list (the lack of solid candidates definitely helped).
Alexis Sanchez initially joined the club on loan from Man United in 2019, but ended up making a permanent switch as a free agent a year later, which makes him eligible to the list.
Although he mostly acts as a backup and is far removed from his golden years at Arsenal, the Chilean still made some timely contributions when needed.
For instance, Nerazzurri supporters will never forget his last-gasp winner against Juventus in the Italian Super Cup last January.
2- Hakan Calhanoglu (2021)
For Milan fans, Hakan Calhanoglu committed the ultimate betrayal when signing for their crosstown rivals as a free agent.
Nonetheless, Inter supporters welcomed him with open arms, and he repaid their affection with some impressive displays from the get-go.
Even though the Turkish midfielder has only been a part of the club for one season thus far, it was enough to warrant him a spot on the list, thanks to his eight goals and 12 assists.
1- Stefan De Vrij (2018)
Perhaps Hakan will eventually clinch the top spot, but for now, Stefan de Vrij remains the king of free agent signings at Inter – despite his lackluster 2021/22 campaign.
After four campaigns at Lazio, the Nerazzurri pounced for his services in 2018, and he proved to be the cornerstone for a solid defensive unit that helped in restoring the club’s historical status among the elite.
The Dutchman is a powerful and reliable presence at the back, and has been acting as the marshal at the heart of the Nerazzurri’s defense.