INTERNAZIONALE
Consistency will be key
Back in the Champions League for the first time in seven years, the Nerazzurri very nearly did not make the cut, only punching their ticket on the final weekend of the season when coming from behind to snatch a dramatic 3-2 win at Lazio.
In an explosive press conference at the end of the campaign, coach Luciano Spalletti complained that the club’s Chinese owners had not given him the players he wanted, saying: “Promises were made and not kept. We can’t take the fans for a ride.” He also described Inter’s activity in the 2017 marketplace as “a ham-fisted reshuffle”.
Presumably Spalletti is far happier this summer following the retention of star striker Mauro Icardi and the marquee purchase of Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan, who was a € 38m signing from Roma.
Also sweeping into the arrivals lounge were Ghanaian left-sided full-back or midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah, who was acquired on a free from Juventus, Lazio’s out-of-contract Dutch international centre-back Stefan De Vrij, Croat rightback Sime Vrsaljko from Atletico Madrid and Lautaro Martinez, a € 22m buy from Argentinian outfit Racing.
Were Inter ever really in with a chance of sealing a deal this summer for Real Madrid’s midfield maestro Luka Modric?
The Croat superstar was apparently very keen on a switch to San Siro and pushed hard to make it happen, but with Real president Florentino Perez refusing to budge an inch the move was, in truth, a non-starter from the off.
What will be key for a successful European campaign?
Consistency. Inter have an unfortunate tendency of late to take their eye off the ball and to swiftly go from sensational to slipshod. They seem to suffer a barren period every season and must hope that is not the case this autumn.
Who is Inter’s secret weapon?
Often underrated, Croatia’s Marcelo Brozovic is a deep-lying regista and protector of the back-line.