Here we are; halfway through 2013 summer transfer market and as it stands Inter have completed five new signings, namely: Hugo Campagnaro, Marco Andreolli, Diego Laxalt, Ishak Belfodil and Mauro Icardi.
After a hugely disappointing 2012-2013 season for a club with a stature as big as Inter’s, most of its fans were expecting a bit more from the club in the transfer market this summer in order to make amends. However, the club has been restricted by many factors including and not limited to the ongoing negotiations between President and Owner Massimo Moratti and Indonesian tycoon Erick Thohir over the sale of a percentage of the club’s shares.
Starting with the addition to the defensive line, we have to acknowledge that free signing Hugo Campagnaro is a good addition despite his age (33). The experienced and versatile Argentine defender is a good tackler, a good passer, very good in positioning and has the ability to read play. His invaluable experience is much needed especially because of Walter Samuel’s recurring injury problems and also because both Andrea Ranocchia and Juan Jesus showed time and time again last season that they’re still too raw to handle the defensive line on their own.
Marco Andreolli, who also rejoined Inter on a free transfer, can perform the role of being a decent backup (assuming that Campagnaro, Ranocchia and Juan Jesus will be Mazzari’s first choices in his customary 3-men defensive line) as he has the ability to play in the center of defense or on even on the right.
The midfield area is the biggest concern though. Inter have only brought in Diego Laxalt so far and the diminutive youngster from Uruguay is not what Inter really needs to fill the gaps. In fact, he might not even stay this season as he has been lately linked to loan move to Serie A’s newcomers Livorno. Such a move for the ex-Defensor player could be good as it will aid his development and help him adapt to Italian football.
The midfield holding position is a real worry as the team can’t rely on the services of veteran anchor Esteban Cambiasso all season. Cuchu is certainly one of the most intelligent midfielders of his generation but the he evidently doesn’t have the legs to do the job week-in week-out anymore and despite Mundingayi’s return from his long-term injury layoff, the team still needs another player with more quality for that vital position.
An even more worrying aspect is the lack of creativity from the middle of the park. At the moment, Mateo Kovačić is Inter’s most creative midfielder and the club don’t have a likewise backup for the 19-year old wunderkind. In the recent friendly against Hamburg, Fredy Guarín was the team’s most creative player, despite the fact that being creative is not one of his known strengths.
Inter don’t look too convincing on the flanks either. The first choice options at the moment are Álvaro Daniel Pereira (on the left flank) and Yuto Nagatomo (on the right flank) and both are anything but sound. The club has been pursuing Chilean Mauricio Isla as well as the likes of Gregory van der Wiel, Daryl Janmaat and Wallace since the start of the summer but until now none of them has arrived. Inter’s inability to close a deal for Isla in particular has been one of the most frustrating aspects this summer’s as the club seem to have wasted a full month chasing a player who his team don’t want to let him go for one reason or another.
When Mazzarri was asked about Inter’s search for a right full back by Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published on Monday, 29 July 2013 he replied with this: “I’ve never been as serene as I am this year. I often talk to Moratti and we understand each other. The desire of the club is to complete the team in the best way. I will try to enhance the value of the what I have, the club will do what it can”
It’s good to see the new coach being very understanding in public but the club’s best ways should also try making his life easier, by any means it can.
Last but not least is the attack, Inter are gambling on two promising inexperienced duo of Ishak Belfodil and Mauro Icardi this season. The two young hotshots managed to score 18 Serie A goals between last season and showed a lot of promise last season. Now they’ve reached a top team (maybe too soon) where the pressure and expectation levels are enormous. It would be really interesting to see how will they cope with it all this season…
As an Interista, I hope the club will utilize the second half of the transfer market wisely and not wait until the last day to complete the squad like they usually did in the last few transfer market windows. New players always need time to acclimatize themselves with their new surroundings and even the coach also needs time to understand where to use them and transmit his ideas to them without any pressure or rush.
Follow:
