Inter look to have found a source of real stability in their backline amid a climate of uncertainty in the form of veteran defender Francesco Acerbi.
This is highlight by Italian news outlet Gazzetta.it, who argue that the Nerazzurri have made a very fortuitous decision in signing the 34-year-old on the advice of Simone Inzaghi, as he has become a bedrock of their defense.
Inter signed Acerbi on loan from Lazio on the final day of the summer transfer window, and his signing was hardly a universally popular one.
The former Sassuolo defender’s arrival was seen as a sign of a lack of ambition from the club, whilst his connections to city rivals AC Milan was also a point of contention with many fans.
However, there was certainly never any lack of trust in the 34-year-old from coach Simone Inzaghi, who had worked with the player for three season whilst he was in charge of the Biancocelesti.
In the end, the coach’s faith in Acerbi has been vindicated by the player’s performances so far in the season, the Gazzetta argues.
The 34-year-old has cemented a regular place for himself in the starting eleven, whilst his displays against top rivals such as Napoli and AC Milan have been consistently impressive.
Moreover, the fact that Acerbi has come in to reinforce the defense in a season which has seen Milan Skriniar make the decision to leave and Stefan de Vrij’s future also up in the air has been a much-needed injection of consistency in a key area.
For the Gazzetta, Acerbi is the real heart of Inter’s defense now, alongside Alessandro Bastoni, and has proved a very successful bet indeed based on the advice of coach Inzaghi.
