Check out our Inter season preview! We are previewing every one of the top clubs in Serie A ahead of the 2023/24 campaign as we head closer and closer to the new season. We have already previewed Napoli, can they win back-to-back titles?
Inter showed a lot of promise last term, especially with their run to the Champions League final. Nevertheless, they didn’t show enough quality in the league. We will be examining everything you need to know about Inter before the new season gets underway. That includes: a 2022/23 season recap, pre-season form, transfers, opening fixtures, predicted line-up, one to watch and season target. So, take a look at our Inter season preview below!
Inter Season Preview
2022/23 Season Recap
Despite losing a mammoth 12 Serie A games last term, Inter finished in third and were able to qualify for the Champions League next season. Simone Inzaghi prospered in the cup competitions and was able to win both the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana.
The Nerazzurri also had an incredibly successful Champions League campaign. After defeating rivals Milan in the semi-finals, Inter took on heavyweights Manchester City in the final. Despite a valiant attempt, City would win 1-0 in what was a close match.
Pre-season Form:
Pergolettese (N) W 10-0 (Goals: Joaquin Correa, Alessandro Bastoni, Hakan Calhanoglu, Denzel Dumfries, Lautaro Martinez x 4, Sebastiano Esposito, Henrikh Mkhitaryan)
Al Nassr (N) D 1-1 (Goals: Davide Frattesi)
PSG (N) W 2-1 (Goals: Sebastiano Esposito, Stefano Sensi)
Salzburg (A) W 4-3 (Goals: Stefan de Vrij, Joaquin Correa, Stefano Sensi)
Egnatia (N) W 4-2 (Goals: Nicolo Barella, Lautaro Martinez x2, Giacomo Stabile)
Transfers In:
Kristjan Asllani (centre-midfield) Empoli; Yann Aurel Bisseck (centre-back) Aarhus; Yann Sommer (goalkeeper) Bayern Munich; Davide Frattesi (centre-midfield) Sassuolo (loan); Francesco Acerbi (centre-back) Lazio; Marcus Thuram (centre-forward) Borussia Mönchengladbach; Juan Cuadrado (right-midfield) Juventus; Emil Audero (goalkeeper) Sampdoria (loan); Raffaele Di Gennaro (goalkeeper) Gubbio; Carlos Augusto (left-back) Monza (loan); Marko Arnautovic (centre-forward) Bologna (loan)
Transfers Out:
Samir Handanovic (goalkeeper) Released; Alex Cordaz (goalkeeper) Released; Danilo D’Ambrosio (centre-back) Monza; Andre Onana (goalkeeper) Manchester United; Andrea Pinamonti (centre-forward) Sassuolo; Marcelo Brozovic (centre-midfield) Al Nassr; Samuele Mulattieri (centre-forward) Sassuolo; Lorenzo Pirola (centre-back) Salernitana; Facundo Colidio (centre-forward) River Plate; Darian Males (attacking midfield) Young Boys; Andi Hoti (centre-back) Magdeburg; Milan Skriniar (centre-back) Paris Saint-Germain; Edin Dzeko (centre-forward) Fenerbahce; Roberto Gagliardini (centre-midfield) Monza; Dalbert (left-back) Released; Valentin Carboni (attacking midfield) Monza (loan); Zinho Vanheusden (centre-back) Standard Liege (loan); Ionut Radu (goalkeeper) Bournemouth (loan); Romelu Lukaku (centre-forward) Chelsea (end of loan); Robin Gosens (left-back) Union Berlin
Summary of Transfers
There will be plenty of changes to the Inter squad for the 2023/24 Serie A campaign. Goalkeeper Andre Onana will be a key departure and his ability to build out from the back may impact the Nerazzurri’s style of play ahead of the new season. Nevertheless, Yann Sommer offers a good replacement.
Milan Skriniar has also departed the club but Inter have already prepared for his absence since he was out injured for large parts of last season. Francesco Acerbi will continue in the Inter defense after completing a permanent move from Lazio. Young defender Yann Bisseck will help provide depth at the back, whilst Juan Cuadrado has joined from Juventus. With the departure of Robin Gosens to Union Berlin, they have found a direct replacement in the form of Carlos Augusto. Inter have also been linked with a move for Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Another key loss has been in the form of Marcelo Brozovic. The 30-year-old midfielder has been pivotal to the Inter midfield now for the better part of a decade. New signing Davide Frattesi will be the marquee signing in the middle of the park as he looks to make up for the loss of Brozovic, whilst Stefano Sensi could be set for a bigger role after returning from a loan spell at Monza. However, reports continue to link Udinese midfielder Lazar Samardzic with a move to the San Siro.
Inzaghi has lost forwards Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku ahead of the 2023/24 season. Marcus Thuram has joined on a free, though, which looks like a shrewd signing. He will join the likes of Lautaro Martinez and Joaquin Correa in the offense. Marko Arnautovic has become the latest signing and he will compete for a depth role up top.
Opening Five 2023/24 Serie A Fixtures
Monza (H)
Cagliari (A)
Fiorentina (H)
Milan (H)
Empoli (A)
Inter will feel confident about making a good start to the new Serie A season. They are facing just one of the top six in their opening five matches and that is in the ‘home’ fixture against Milan. They are also facing two sides who finished in the bottom half last term, whilst Cagliari were promoted from Serie B. The Nerazzurri will be expected to have a strong start to the season.
Predicted Line-up:
(3-5-2) Yann Sommer; Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Davide Frattesi, Federico Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram
Sommer is expected to slot straight in for Onana in between the sticks. A back three of Matteo Darmian, Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni will likely continue, as Stefan de Vrij and Bisseck provide depth. Denzel Dumfries is the most likely option at right wing-back but Cuadrado is also an experienced option. Federico Dimarco and Augusto will battle it out over on the left.
A midfield three of Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu and Davide Frattesi is expected to be the main combination. However, Inter have good options there as Kristjan Asllani, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Stefano Sensi provide depth. There have been links with Inter signing Samardzic, with Sensi going the other way.
Martinez and Thuram are set to be the preferred forward partnership for the time being. However, Joaquin Correa and Arnautovic will be the backup options for the moment. The Nerazzurri had been linked with a move for Porto forward Mehdi Taremi but have signed Arnautovic instead.
One to Watch
Davide Frattesi
The 23-year-old midfielder had been linked with a move away from Sassuolo for some time. A number of top clubs in Italy were vying for his signature but Inter managed to get the deal done. He managed to score seven goals last season for the Neroverdi and will be looking to push on at his new club this term.
Season Target
Inter simply cannot lose as many league games as they did last season. Their impressive run to the Champions League final will inspire them to go on and win the Scudetto this season but they will have to do so without the likes of Onana and Brozovic. Champions League qualification will be the minimum but the hope is to challenge for the title.