What is the mood?
Inter Milan only played a subordinate role in the championship last season, crossing the finish line in third place with a whopping 18 points behind champions Napoli – and yet Inter 2022/23 was on everyone’s lips. The Nerazzurri won the Coppa Italia again (2-1 against Florence) and were almost sensational in the Champions League final, which they lost 1-0 to Manchester City despite a very good performance and late chances for extra time.
Simone Inzaghi’s team, who was criticized in the media from time to time during the season and whose contract is to be extended early until 2025, presented itself as strong as a bear, especially in the season finale, and caused a hype in the fashion city. Unsurprisingly, the Milanese are also believed to be capable of 2023/24. Only the team has changed – and clearly.
What can the squad do?
With the two goalkeepers André Onana (Manchester United), Samir Handanovic (without a club) and the experienced warriors Danilo d’Ambrosio (AC Monza), Milan Skriniar (Paris St. Germain), Marcelo Brozovic (Al-Nassr), Edin Dzeko (Fenerbahce ) and Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) have lost a lot of deserving players.
While at FC Internazionale you could live with most of the departures because the transfers either brought good money into the coffers (Onana, Brozovic) or the players concerned were simply in the autumn of their careers (Dzeko, d’Ambrosio, Handanovic ), this was not the case with Skriniar and especially Lukaku. Skriniar had to move to Paris on a free transfer. With Lukaku, who was only on loan, there was hope that he would be committed.
Chelsea were not opposed to a transfer of the Belgium international striker, but Lukaku himself sidelined when he suddenly ignored Inter in what appears to have been a move to Juventus. Inter then withdrew and devoted themselves to new goals – a few of which are fluent in German …
In this context, perhaps the most prominent newcomer is Yann Sommer (34), the Swiss national keeper was guided away from FC Bayern. Meanwhile, Yann Aurel Bisseck (22) – the captain of the German U21s came from Denmark from Aarhus GF – should prove to be a promising new signing, but still needs some time to get used to. Meanwhile, Robin Gosens is no longer present, the German national player was drawn to the Bundesliga surprise club and Champions League participant Union Berlin.
German is still spoken in Milan, which Marcus Thuram, who was brought from Gladbach for free, should understand a bit. The French should close the Lukaku gap in the storm and, in tandem with Lautaro Martinez, make the Belgian forget. In midfield, Davide Frattesi, who was signed from Sassuolo, also showed in preparation that he could be a real reinforcement. The 23-year-old, together with Kristjan Asllani (21), is one of the fresh hopes in midfield.
What’s the goal?
In Italy, champions SSC Napoli are once again most likely to be able to do so this season, but Inter is also to be expected, although coach Simone Inzaghi has to do a balancing act. The 47-year-old has to make a change in personnel, which should have a sporting and ultimately not negative effect. That’s all the more important when you take a closer look at Milan’s finances.
According to research by the “Gazzetta dello Sport”, Inter has a huge mountain of debt of 350 million euros. The successful Champions League season should have given the Italians some breathing room again, but successes will also be needed in the future – nationally and internationally in order to stabilize financially again. The minimum goal should therefore be clear: premier class.
What does the coach say?
He has to cope in a difficult economic environment: Simone Inzaghi.
IMAGO/Gribaudi/ImagePhoto
Inzaghi is certain he can still find success with a changed FC Internazionale squad. He had already indicated that to “Sport Mediaset” immediately after the lost CL final: “I think that with this team spirit, the structure in this club and this determination, we will be here again in the future (in the final; Note d. editor) will be. We showed the world how well we kept up against Manchester City.” They now want to build on that directly after preparing for the new season.