Inter’s trip to Bologna tomorrow will pit them against a player they very nearly signed five years ago, as recalled by a report in the Italian media.
Roberto Soriano has kick-started his career since joining Bologna in the summer of 2019, having lost his way during an unsuccessful spell in Spain at Villarreal.
The La Liga side signed the German-born Italian from Sampdoria in 2016 – but as FcInterNews.it have remembered today, it was very nearly Inter who prized Soriano from the Blucerchiati that same year.
The 30-year-old will now be out to beat Antonio Conte’s side at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, having scored against the Nerazzurri in last season’s fixture (although Bologna ultimately lost 2-1, back in November 2019).
Inter were seeking reinforcements for Roberto Mancini during the January transfer window in 2016, the report explained, and cast their eyes upon Soriano and his Sampdoria teammate Eder.
The Nerazzurri wanted to sign both, but their financial restrictions at the time (they were under UEFA’s settlement agreement) forced them to pick just one, and Mancini chose Eder.
Soriano had hoped his move to San Siro would only be postponed by six months, but then Erick Thohir sold Inter to Suning and the club’s previous transfer plans were thrown out of the window.
Kia Joorabchian flexed his muscles after Suning’s arrival and instead brought in Joao Mario, one of his own clients, from Sporting CP, paving the way for Villarreal to pick up Soriano for €14 million.
Mancini, Inter’s head coach at the time, was extremely disappointed and resigned from his job shortly afterwards, following a breakdown in relations with Thohir.
As FCIN pointed out, Soriano’s failed move to Inter ended up hurting both parties.
Their paths are set to cross again tomorrow as Conte’s side chase down the points they need to secure the Serie A title.