Italian media are arguing that Inter Milan can boast a midfield trio of similar quality to former Real Madrid trio Luka Modric, Toni Kroos & Casemiro.
Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, make the comparison between Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the iconic Los Blancos trio.
Over the past few seasons, one of Inter’s major strengths has been their quality in midfield.
26-year-old former Cagliari man Barella has been at the heart of everything since his arrival in 2019.
Barella’s great contribution is his versatility. The Italian international provides aggression, and energy, and workrate, but also superb technical ability and passing range.
The evolution of Barella into a player capable of providing goals and assists on a fairly regular basis has only increased his standing in the team.
Meanwhile, the likes of Marcelo Brozovic and Christian Eriksen have had big roles to play recently. Both have left in the past couple years.
But the Nerazzurri have found exactly the right players to replace them.
Inter Midfield Comparable To Iconic Real Madrid Trio?
Davide Frattesi arrived at Inter from Sassuolo this summer. The expectations will be that the 23-year-old can be the future of the Nerazzurri’s midfield.
But in the short term, the two players forming Inter’s strongest midfield along with Barella are older.
One is Hakan Calhanoglu. The Turk signed on a free transfer from AC Milan in the summer of 2021, replacing Eriksen.
When Calhanoglu arrived at Inter, he was only starting to make the switch from a number ten or a winger to more of a box-to-box role.
But under Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, the 29-year-old has moved even farther back.
Calhanoglu’s newfound aggression, defensive awareness, and passing range from deep have seen him thrive as a regista.
And veteran former Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund man Henrikh Mkhitaryan arrived from Roma last summer.
The Armenian has given Inter’s midfield trio the balance that it needs.
Mkhitaryan has played largely on the left of the trio. The Armenian has complemented Barella and Calhanoglu with his positional sense, ball control, and passing range.
And against AC Milan over the weekend, Mkhitaryan gave a demonstration of his goal threat.
The Gazzetta note how Inter’s three first-choice midfield functions as a well-oiled unit.
Each member of the trio knows their role, and each does a bit of everything. This is not to say that there is no specialization, but that there are no weak links in any are of the game.
The Gazzetta find this to be a similar dynamic to former Real Madrid midfield Modric, Kroos, and Casemiro.
And considering the success that that trio enjoyed in the Spanish capital – two La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies – it could certainly be a positive sign for the Nerazzurri.
