Or are the Inter execs just being thorough? Or do they really not have a budget for an unplanned signing and need to build it by selling excess players? It’s been nearly a month since Tajon Buchanan got hurt, and, among the parade of young center-backs linked to them, none is particularly close to joining.
A Lengthier Search than Expected
Granted that it’s a very first-world problem while their supposed competitors are either struggling to come to terms for their top targets or solve much trickier situations in the other direction, but it’s still something they must take care of.
It shouldn’t have taken the youngster’s leg fracture for them to realize they needed a proper Alessandro Bastoni deputy. Or an up-and-coming defender in general, allowing Francesco Acerbi to slide in that role if need be. Carlos Augusto handled the position in a pinch in the past season. Doing that regularly is a big ask for somebody who’s primarily an offensive-minded player. He’s been behind reproach, but the role severely clips his wings. It wasn’t a permanent solution, and Inter probably knew it too.
Oaktree’s Influence and Missed Opportunities
The ownership change, which has caught by surprise even the brass, probably upset their plans. The Nerazzurri have been accustomed to self-financing and have been extremely shrewd when it comes to free-agent signings. Steven Zhang let the front office operate as they pleased, as any patron should, and their wages bill has always been adequate.
If it weren’t for Oaktree’s insistence in building for the future, or perhaps eyeing a future ‘plusvalenza,’ one between Mario Hermoso and Ricardo Rodriguez would already be practicing in Milan. While the reservations about the former are somewhat understandable due to his personal demands, the latter would have addressed their needs at a very affordable price. Instead, he’s joining Real Betis after waiting for them for a while, Relevo reports.
The Doubts Elsewhere
The fans won’t pull their hair out, but he would have been the easiest and cheapest solution. He wouldn’t have impacted other potential additions in more important positions, should they ever find a way to get rid of Marko Arnautovic and Joaquin Correa without taking a bath economically speaking. Considering how things are going, it’d be a surprise if they really signed Albert Gudmundsson. At some point, even the will of the player ceases to be a factor if things drag on for too long without tangible progress. Juventus might learn that lesson with Teun Koopmeiners soon enough too.
Considering the turn of events and the paradigm shift, Inter were lucky to have snapped up Mehdi Taremi and Piotr Zielinski before the arrival of Oaktree. The American fund might have deemed them too old, too expensive salary-wise, or unnecessary as they aren’t coming in as starters. Giuseppe Marotta has made it a habit to build strength on strength, and the upcoming season will present new challenges for all the top teams. The safest way to tackle them is to be extra deep. They’ll surely focus more on the Champions League after last season’s early exit and the Scudetto, especially if they get off to a fast start. It’s likely to happen since all their rivals are in flux and changed a lot.
The Title Race and the Future Concerns
Make no mistake, Inter are clearly in pole position to repeat. They had the best squad going into the summer, didn’t lose anybody of note, and probably won’t, and straight-up added to it. Continuity is a powerful asset, and they are the only ones to have it at the top of the table. But their management hasn’t been as swift or brilliant as in previous years when they had been masterful in working within their limits.
It’s normal for an ownership change to lead to strategic modifications, and their officials are adjusting to it. It’s already a success that it didn’t interfere with their renewals and that they weren’t asked to make a major sale to help their balance sheets. They are in much better shape than in the past, but they are still losing money each year. The Americans might eventually want to be in the black, as Milan managed after a multi-year process. The way to achieve that isn’t a secret.
The Only Other Need
There’s a month left in the window, so plenty of time for Inter to nail the final pieces of the puzzle. They shouldn’t be short-sighted. The new defender shouldn’t just be able to handle a secondary role for a few months but rather be good enough to wait in the wings and take over from Stefan De Vrij and Francesco Acerbi down the line. They have the luxury of their attackers all fitting well together, but they need a speedster to round out their corps. Alexis Sanchez wasn’t superb, but he was still useful off the bench when healthy. A younger version of that would add another layer to their frontline and make it even more fearsome.
 |
Follow us on Google News for more updates on Serie A and Italian football |