Eyebrows were raised when Ashley Young was first linked with Inter but then again, a team managed by Antonio Conte can always spring these kinds of surprises on us.

Antonio Conte, who has worked in England for two years as the manager of Chelsea, irrefutably picked Young as his first choice wingback for this winter transfer window. In part surely because of the low transfer fee, that only cost Inter €1.5 million, coupled with his vast experience.

Ashley Young arrives in Italy with thwarting odds against him. He is 34 years old playing for a team outside the country of his birth for the first time.

Young isn’t a fancy name and is almost certain to receive criticism from media and fans alike, but Conte always has a way of inspiring his players to succeed against all odds. Something that is evident in the great work he has been doing so far on Young’s ex Manchester United teammates Romelu Lukaku and in part Alexis Sanchez.

Stats

Name: Ashley Young
Age: 34
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Country: England

2019/20:

Appearances: 12 (3).
Tackles:16.
Interceptions: 17.
Clearances: 23.
Assists: 1.
Dribbles: 12.
Key Passes: 22.
Aerial duels won: 16.

What Does Ashley Young Bring To The Team?

Young started out as a highly explosive winger, teased with the ability of beating any full back. Nowadays, he operates more as a fullback or wingback as the case may be at Inter, with more defensive duties, owing to his outstanding versatility.

He could play on either side of the flank with the same vivacity. Young may not exhibit the eye-catching statistics, however, his selling point still remains his tremendous attacking instincts.

The English veteran has registered 1.6 key passes per game, same as Marcelo Brozovic and Antonio Candreva, who are the best creators at Inter. Whopping 1.8 crosses per game, a stat only better by Cristiano Biraghi.

Outside the field, Young is great a leader in the dressing room. His appointment as captain of Manchester United in their dire time further proves it. He is that type of player that always give his all in games. Pretty decent in taking set pieces, a quality that the Nerazzurri have been missing for a while now.

Weaknesses:

First thing that comes to everyone’s mind is age – which is 34. Hardly young. Surely, Ashley isn’t a long term fix and the duration on his contract goes in sync with this. Young would be totally new to the league, though not to the system as he had been deployed as a wingback for the English National team.

Time and opportunities are needed for proper adjustment to a new league but in this case, Young can only chomp a slice of it. Nevertheless It remains to see how fast he would blend into the team.

He isn’t much of a physical player and possess no special quality, at best he is just a squad player.

Conclusion:

Young arrives primarily as a back up player. Here to fill the void elucidated by injuries. Interestingly, Young hasn’t been injured for over two years now.

The English International will bring a great experience, depth and leadership to the team. With his versatility he would be extremely useful to Antonio Conte.

Also for the fact he rejected a contract extension from United by opting to play the next six months in Italy for a lesser salary, could anchor a source of motivation to strive here.

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