The year of 2021 has been a landmark year in the recent history of FC Internazionale Milano.
A return to the summit of Serie A resulting in a first Scudetto since Jose Mourinho’s great side of 2010 and finishing the year looking ahead to knockout Champions League football.
At times it has been uncertain and it hasn’t been a bump free road but let us take a look at how Inter got on in 2021.
1) Inter’s Future Bright In Safe Hands Of Magician Beppe Marotta
With the departure of Antonio Conte and two talismanic figures in Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku, many fans feared for Inter’s progress.
A change of manager was required and replacements for key figures were needed. In stepped Beppe Marotta.
The genius behind Juve’s ascent and stable run at the top of Italy for the best part of the last decade has helped build a serious squad in Milan, with the help of Piero Ausillio.
Edin Dzeko, Hakan Calhanoglu and Denzel Dumfries have been brought in on a shoe string budget and are being coached outstandingly at present by Simone Inzaghi, but more on him later.
Marotta has also sought about securing assets in the squad with Lautaro Martinez and Nicole Barella signed up for the foreseeable.
Although he doesn’t have a huge cheque book, Marotta is savvy and whilst Inter have him at the club operating the playing section of the team, they will continue to compete for top honours.
2) Inter Mounting Strong Scudetto Defence
Despite much uncertainty, Inter have rolled up their sleeves so far in the back end of 2021 and grabbed the initiative to end the calendar year as Winter Champions, a feat the didn’t even manage last year.
With Milan and Napoli starting off like a train and the media bashing a Conte-less Inter, it may have been expected that Inter fade into obscurity.
However, last year’s title winning side has kept the majority of its core and new boss Simone Inzaghi has instilled belief into a side keen to prove to others that last season’s winning experience has only made them hungrier.
A tough run of fixtures in the new year will test Inter severely but you bet any money they will be in the mix come May.
3) 2022 Spells End For Samir Handanovic’s Current Status At Inter
After over a decade service to an at times flat Inter, Samir Handanovic finally got his reward as he lifted the Serie A title this year.
He has seen off Juan Pablo Carrizo, Jonathan, Luc Castaignos and Ezequiel Schelotto and been rewarded by captaining this great club to a Scudetto.
Samir Handanovic is an Inter legend and his legacy as an excellent goalkeeper should be kept in tact, especially when the lion’s share of his Inter career was spent with the club in the gutter.
However, age has hit him hard and we can’t stop moving for nostalgia. It is time at the end of this current campaign to replace him, most likely with Andre Onana.
Let us enjoy Samir and pay homage to his loyalty as he plays out what should be his last few months as undisputed number one.
4) Squad Is Improving & Time To Capitalise On That
The remaining guys of the Luciano Spaletti era in the form of Roberto Gagliardini and Matías Vecino along with other fringe players such as Aleksandr Kolarov and Stefano Sensi must be shown the door.
With Inter now possessing players capable of playing for almost any club in Europe, the aforementioned bunch need to be moved on and replaced with hungrier and more reliable replacements.
Inter need to progress in Europe to show progress and that cannot be done effectively if the squad is carrying passengers.
Injuries have killed the likes of Sensi and Vecino who go with good wishes should they depart.
Gagliardini may score in minnow matches but he lacks the quality to play for a club of Inter’s stature and Kolarov is simply ready to be put out to graze.
Nahitan Nandez and Davide Frattesi are the types of players Inter need to be targeting as replacements who may even help reduce the wage bill.
5) Suning’s Investment Restricted By Chinese Government But Leaving Inter In Safe Hands
Much criticism has been aimed at the ownership of Inter this year.
The sale of key assets and departure of the title winning coach left a sour taste in the mouths of fans just a week after winning the league.
Budget cuts have been imposed which has left the faithful of Inter in a mode of frustration as it seemed as if it was to hold Inter back in their quest to be stable at the top table.
However, let us remember that the Chinese government and COVID have weighed heavily upon the Suning group’s ability to invest.
Sure these people are business people after all which is their primary focus on becoming involved in football but we must keep faith.
After all, the group employ excellently on the football side of things and that is what is serving the club so well so far.
Overall, 2021 has been a fantastic year to be an Inter fan. Even with financial uncertainty dominating the post title win celebrations, the club are richer for 2021’s successes and progress than they were twelve months ago. Twelve months time looks even better right now too..
