How Azpilicueta could fit in at Inter

Cesar Azpilicueta is reportedly on the verge of completing a free transfer to Inter, adding an experienced defender to Simone Inzaghi’s squad.

The 33-year-old Spaniard has agreed to the terms of a two-year contract with the Nerazzurri and is now working on agreeing a contract termination with Chelsea, who are happy to let him leave a year before his contract expires.

Azpilicueta is a welcome reinforcement for Inzaghi, who will be losing defender Milan Skriniar on a free transfer next week. Danilo D’Ambrosio could also leave next week when his contract expires with Inter.

Inzaghi now has to decide how to utilise Azpilicueta, who is tactically flexible and able to play across the backline. The current expectation is that the 33-year-old will slot in as the right sided centre back in the three-man defence, pushing Matteo Darmian out wide.

The Spaniard’s flexibility means he can also be used as the right wing back when necessary, but seems to be the man to fill the void left behind by Skriniar’s imminent departure.

Another important aspect of Azpilicueta’s arrival is his leadership abilities, adding another experienced winner to Inzaghi’s squad. This could prove crucial as Inter look to fight for the Scudetto in the upcoming campaign.

The 33-year-old stands out in two key areas, giving hints about how Inzaghi will deploy the defender. The first of these is his passing ability, with Azpilicueta completing 51.3 passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season. He also completed 4.18 progressive passes per 90, showing his strong ability to kickstart buildup play from the back.  

The other area where Azpilicueta shines is defensively; this season, he pulled off 2.53 tackles per 90 minutes, 3.18 clearances per 90 and 1.53 blocks per 90, displaying his capabilities at shutting down opposition attacks.

These two elements explain why Inzaghi might use Azpilicueta as the right sided centre back, allowing him to both contribute to attacking moves whilst also being a tough barrier in defence.