Nainggolan, Paulinho, Osvaldo, Gilardino, Belfodil, Danilo, Rami, Isla, Basta. BASTA. That is to say, that’s enough now. This is only a fifth of the names mentioned in connection with Inter, and the transfer window hasn’t even opened yet. However, I can’t help thinking that the period known as the silly season is a bit charming. Rather, very charming. Because there are few times during which there is as much movement and discussions as when it’s time for the silly season.
A perfect example appeared yesterday, when it suddenly emerged that Inter were willing to offer 10 million euros and lend Silvestre and Cassano for 50% of the striker Belfodil. Lunacy? What are we doing? What are Inter doing? These and other I asked, and many other’s, before it once again became clear that sporting director Branca, Moratti and coach Mazzarri once again had made a choice with the intention to improve the economy and bring in a player type that is needed on the team. Because when Inter haven’t had any continuity in signings, coaching choices and other things, there has been one thing since Mourinho left that has been done with continuity and done well. The reduction of the wages.
Therefore, you can’t be surprised when you read that Inter makes a saving of almost € 8 million by letting Parma pay Silvestre and Cassano’s wages. In addition, Inter get rid of two players that the coach didn’t want to have in his squad. It’s true that Cassano is a magical footballer who delivered incredibly well last season, but the whole locker room is tired of him, the team must be prioritized and Mazzarri who was in charge of Cassano at Sampdoria has chosen to sacrifice the football genius from Bari Vecchia, there must be more than one reason why this happens.
As Silvestre is also loaned, probably with a purchase option for Parma, he has a chance to increase his value on the market and redeem himself for the past season with more playing time than he had at Inter. If he performs well he raises his value, something that wouldn’t happen if it had been a direct sale of him from Inter now, thus getting the loan is also a logical for a player who is clearly better than the past season has shown. It’s obvious that Mazzarri could sacrifice Silvestre to get money from the wage costs and to get Belfodil.
You could argue that Cassano should have been sold to another team, and that the same applies to Silvestre, but then you forget about a player that all top teams in Serie A have tried to enlist in the last six months, Ishak Belfodil is his name and last season he scored 8 goals in Serie A with Parma. A player from the class of 1992 that has proven his qualities on the pitch and that can explode in the future. A player who, despite his length of 1.91, has nice technique, and hopefully with Icardi will form a toxic black and blue attack in years to come, is what attracted Inter to make the deal.
It takes me to another deal that was finalized yesterday, Giulio Donati is going to Bayer Leverkusen. Donati, who has a year left on his contract was unknown for most people less than a week ago. He was probably not worth more than 500 000 euro because his Grossetto was relegated from Serie B and Donati lost his spot on the team at the end of the season. After a successful European Championship, he was sold for 3 million and the Inter world revolts. Why I wonder? Certainly the defensive line in the U21 national team that went to the final of the European Championships consisted of Inter players. Donati, Caldirola, Bianchetti and Biraghi. And Bardi in goal. Of these five, according to me, it’s only Bardi that’s worth considering.
Finally, I would point out that if you still do not see anything positive in the deal that could bring Belfodil to Inter, I want to contribute with the aspect that for once, it’s Inter getting a young player of the highest quality, instead of giving one away in a deal. If Cassano and Silvestre leaves, it is absolutely clear that Inter lose a fantastic player in Cassano and that the team might lose in quality. But where Destro and Bonucci was ready to break through at Inter, and instead were given away in deals for other players, Inter, this time gets rid of two heavy salaries and two players that the coach doesn’t want, and at the same time get an exciting player who has proved that he can deliver in Serie A in a (with all due respect to Parma) worse team than Inter.
Investing in young people of quality, is never wrong. Selling young people without sufficient quality, isn’t wrong either. My only hope now is that the silly season is sticks to the madness of rumors and that Inter aren’t selling Alfred Duncan. If they do that, the club has once again thrown away a young player of the highest quality, instead of like Icardi, Belfodil, Juan Jesus and Kovacic, getting them and allowing them to play and to explode in the black and blue.
Welcome to the silly season, this is just the beginning.
