There have been a lot of rumors surrounding the former Inter Milan center-back Skriniar. The Slovak moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 and now there are reports that he is on his way out barely a year after the French side signed him on a free transfer.
In related news, the Nerazzurri have been creating chances this season but the goals have not been coming. As the season draws closer to its midway point, we take a look at the latest developments in Seria A as well as all the news surrounding potential transfers.
If you consider yourself to be an Italian football fan, stick with this report as we dive deeper into the newest developments in the potential Skriniar transfer as multiple sides are considering a move. Online sports betting enthusiasts should also pay attention as the article goes deep into what the first-tier competition in the country has to offer and what is yet to come for Inter and the rest of the teams.
The Milan Skriniar Saga Continues
Milan Skriniar, the Slovak center-back who spent most of his prime years with Inter, left the squad in 2023.
Arriving from Sampdoria in 2017, he played 193 games and scored 10 goals for the current champions. In those 7 or so years with the team, he won 1 Serie A title (2020/21), 2 Coppa Italia titles (2022 and 2023), 2 Supercoppa Italiana titles (2021 and 2022), and was both the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League runner-up, in 2020 and 2023, respectively. His contribution to the Italian side was great and he was a fan favorite.
However, once his contract was up, an offer from PSG came and on July 6, 2023, they signed him on a five-year contract that kept him with the team until June 30, 2028.
Becoming the first Slovak to play for the team from Parc des Princes, he made an immediate impact.
In his short time there, he won the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, and the Trophee des Champions. So far, he has played 32 games for the Parisians in all competitions but now it seems like his time there draws to an early end. As a matter of fact, it did not take long for the first rumors to start swirling.
In June of 2024, after barely a year of him being with the new club, PSG reportedly wanted to sell the defender. He did play a lot in Ligue 1, but he was well out of favor with PSG boss Luis Enrique in the UCL.
The lack of trust in the 29-year-old Slovak did not sit well so Le Parisien reported that PSG is looking to get rid of him. The most likely destination seemed a return to Serie A with many teams wanting him in his ranks.
Yet, nothing happened despite teams like Everton and Newcastle reportedly inquiring about Skriniar’s services.
Everton reportedly considered making an ambitious approach as they desperately needed defensive reinforcements. Their shortlist featured him during the transfer deadline but again, nothing materialised.
Similarly, Newcastle United wanted to address their defensive issues in the same manner. The Magpies targeted the PSG defender during the final transfer window days. The squad has a world of issues on the defensive end and an experienced CB like Skriniar can solve a lot of them.
As mentioned, many Italian teams including Napoli, Como, and Juventus have shown interest, but also several Saudi Pro League clubs. Last week, it was reported however that he is no longer a priority for Juventus.
The Blanconeri need a new center-back after losing Gleison Bremer. They dislike his lack of playing time and therefore fitness and form with PSG. In addition to this, the economic factor has done its deed as Skriniar currently earns 8 million euros. Bar for a loan, it seems he will not be joining the Turin side.
When Saudi teams are concerned, Al Nassr is the frontrunner as they sent PSG a bid for the Slovak defender. Reports, none other than Fabrizio Romano, claim a deal is nearly done and that the two sides reached an agreement.
Despite a chance to go back to Italy, it does seem that the saga will end in Saudi Arabia, a country that is on the rise in the football world.
Inter Milan News: Can They Defend the Title?
Being in second place in Serie A standings after 11 matches would be more than enough for most Italian heavyweights. However, Inter wants more and they are the defending champions. As such, nothing but the top suffices at any point in the season.
Therefore, the fact that Napoli has 1 point more than them and that Atalanta, Fiorentina, and Lazio are all breathing down their neck with only 2 points behind does not sit well at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium. Despite being in good form, so are the aforementioned teams and Inter just cannot seem to get over the hurdle and reclaim the top spot.
From the outside looking in, everything seems to be in order. Inter have scored 25 goals, allowed 13, and have a respectable 12-goal difference. In the first 11 games, they won 7, drew 3, and only lost 1.
So how come they are not first? In the last 5 games, they have 4 wins and a draw. These are all phenomenal stats. On top of it all, Marcus Thuram is the third leading goalscorer right now with 7 while Lautaro Martinez is tied for 5th with 5 goals.
They should be not only first, but at least a few points ahead of the rest of the teams. Well, it is not as easy in Italy as Napoli, Atalanta, Fiorentina, and Lazio are playing equally well.
The problem for the Nerazzurri seems to be the lack of goals despite scoring the second-most with 25. The chances are simply not being capitalized on enough. They keep coming but the final touches are not finding their mark.
Had some of them been converted as they should have, we would be looking at a commanding lead the likes of which they had in 2021 and 2024. So what needs to take place for them to start scoring more?
If we take a look at their previous five Serie A games, they include a 1-0 win over Venezia, a 3-0 win against Empoli, a 4 -4 draw with Juventus, a 1-0 win against Roma, and a 3 – 2 win against Torino.
Except for the Empoli rout, all other games were barely won with the Juventus derby almost lost. Everyone can see that they need to score more goals if they are to get back on top.
And the chances are there. They had 19 (8) shots versus Venezia, 18 (9) versus Juventus, 11 (6) against Roma, and a staggering 29 (8) against Torino. These are concerning stats if you consider how little the team is converting.
For such a good team that is in form, sports betting should come easy with Inter, and yet it is always a fear for the punters when they include them in a ticket.
Will they win the game in which they are clear favorites? Are they able to convert the easy chances?
The stats are alarming as they reveal wastefulness in front of the opponent’s goal, unlike anything we can see right now in Europe. All it takes is one single look at the conversion rate of this year compared to last year. There is a significant downward spiral that is not looking to get back up anytime soon.
Comparing the Two Seasons
Inter finished the 2023/24 season with an amazing tally of 89 goals and won their 20th Scudetto. The second-placed AC Milan, their biggest rival, scored 76. Repeating such a season is no easy task, but they fell off without a good reason, at least on paper.
At the moment, after 11 games played, the squad is averaging 2.27 goals per game in Serie A. This is, again, a great start, but it is not enough when you see how many wasted goalscoring opportunities took place. Clear-cut chances are not being utilized and it shows in the stats, but also the standings.
The problem reached its peak during the Venezia game when the team only scored once despite a plethora of chances against a much weaker squad. Thuram wasted two clear chances, Mkhitaryan squandered a great first-half chance, and those were just some. If there is one thing that does not lie, it is the numbers.
Last season, Inter had a 50% rate in clear-cut chances, while at the moment, it is barely at 30%. That is a lot of goals left on the line for a team striving to capture another Serie A title and ride the wave of great form and top-level talent in their ranks.
Things are largely similar in the UEFA Champions League, especially in the last two games. First, they had 13 (4) shots against Manchester City in a 0-0 tie. Then they managed to thrash Crvena Zvezda, but they could still have scored more considering 15 (7) shots.
Then, the woes from the domestic competition started happening on the European stage as well. Against Young Boys, a considerably weaker squad, Inter had 19 (6) shots and only scored once for a 1 – 0 win, the winner coming in stoppage time, 90+3’, thanks to a great effort by Thuram.
The most recent game against Arsenal saw the trend continue as the Italian side barely managed to score from the penalty spot. They had a limited amount of shots with 7 (1) compared to Arsenal’s 20 (4), but they still struggled mightily.
Upcoming Fixtures and Odds
The upcoming matches are no easy task as the team has a derby before the newest international break. First, on Sunday, November 10, Inter is facing Napoli in what is the most important game of the season. They have to win if they want to grab hold of the number one spot in Serie A.
They are playing at home, they have a lot to prove, and their strikers are in great form. There are no excuses and they simply have to convert. According to Stake, they are the favorites with 1.89 odds over Napoli’s 4.10. The draw odds are 3.75 at the moment. The top of the standings is ripe for the taking and Inter should be able to take in front of the home crowd.
On Saturday, November 23, they are playing away versus Verona. Here, they are absolute favorites as their odds are sitting comfortably at 1.4 while Verona is the underdog with 8. It will be a great chance to test their goalscoring abilities and raise that abysmal 30% conversion rate against a weaker side. Also, provided that they first win against Napoli, it will be a great chance to confirm their lead and add 3 points to the tally.
After that game comes a new UCL clash, this time at home against RB Leipzig. Similar to what they need to do at home, it is a chance to get back on track in terms of goalscoring and achieve a strong wing in front of their fans. Leipzig is struggling in UCL and has 4 losses, scoring only 1 goal and allowing 6.
Inter is in the great 5th place and a win could even get them to the top of the standings if other teams flounder. Conversion rate simply has to be up to the task in this game, meaning all three remaining November games are great chances to course-correct the season into the tough December stretch.
Speaking of the last month of 2024, 7 games await them, 3 Serie A matches at home (Parma, Udinese, and Como), and 3 away (Fiorentina, Lazio, and Cagliari), and a UCL away match against Bayer Leverkusen.
The final stretch of the year can be the difference-maker the team desperately needs to enter the new year strong and get a great chance for a title. Hopefully, their chances will start delivering and more balls will find their way into the opponent’s net.
