Former Juventus defender Mark Iuliano has expressed his surprise that none of the major Italian clubs signed Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul ahead of Atletico Madrid, with Inter having been linked strongly with the 27-year-old during several transfer windows.
Speaking to Italian news outlet TuttoJuve.com, the 47-year-old praised the qualities of the former Udinese midfielder and suggests that he would have made a significant addition to any of the big Italian clubs.
De Paul’s signing for next season has been officially announced by Atletico, with the Spanish giants having beaten a number of other clubs to his signature, but the midfielder was expected by many to have a future at a big European club for some time even prior to this summer.
The Argentine had been linked with the Nerazzurri persistently while Antonio Conte was manager, and it could be the case that the club’s financial situation was what caused them to lose out on his signature.
Iuliano suggests that Inter have lost out on a big opportunity in failing to bring De Paul in, and that the likes of major rivals Juventus and AC Milan have as well:
“Juve, Milan, and Inter have made a huge mistake in not buying De Paul,” the former defender stated, “he has an endless engine, he always beats his man, and he tracks back like never before in defense.”
