Inter’s chief executive Beppe Marotta today confirmed he wanted the Nerazzurri’s squad to have a core of Italian players.
Stefano Sensi officially joined from Sassuolo last week while Nicolò Barella is very close to signing from Cagliari.
Inter could have their most homegrown squad since the 2002-03 season if none of their pre-existing Italians left.
“It’s very difficult to play in Serie A and Italian players understand this better than those who come from abroad,” Marotta told Sky Sport.
“They have a strong sense of belonging which they can transfer to the others.
“I also think the Italian football movement benefits when big clubs like Inter purchase homegrown players.
“We have a lot of great coaches in this country but the same can be said of our players.”
Roberto Gagliardini, Danilo D’Ambrosio, Andrea Ranocchia, Matteo Politano, Daniele Padelli, Tommaso Berni, Antonio Candreva, Alessandro Bastoni and Federico Dimarco are all on Inter’s books, along with the new arrival Sensi.
Barella would make it 11 Italian players in the squad should the Nerazzurri agree a deal with Cagliari this week.
