If in the end Marcelo Brozovic is to be the ‘Nainggolan’ of Spalletti’s Inter then at the moment the twenty-four year old from Croatia does have some of the right qualities to play the role of an assaulter which was how Spalletti used the Belgian, Nianggolan at Roma in order to replicate the role of Arturo Vidal while at Juventus.

Both Nainggolan and Vidal were linked to Inter this summer before Nainggolan got renewed at Roma and Carlo Ancelotti refused to negotiate for Vidal which even then may of not happened due to the restrictions on Suning’s investment from the Chinese government. Either way, it is now up to Spalletti to transform what he already has into players of this calibre.

Brozovic certainly has far more goal scoring ability than that of Joao Mario or Borja Valero and his attitude problems have also clearly been talked about with the Spalletti. However he doesn’t have the same level of intelligence as either of the two other potential alternatives in that role and must work towards this to repay the managers faith. As must Joao Mario learn to be more threatening when in front of goal himself.