Hakan Calhanoglu is Inter’s first significant signing since Simone Inzaghi replaced Antonio Conte and Richard Hall looks into the Nerazzurri’s future and how they will change next season.

“Different ideas” can mean many things, even if Antonio Conte insists it has nothing to do with money. As Inter were still in the joyous and ecstatic state after winning the Scudetto, the rumblings were shaking the foundations of the Giuseppe Meazza.

Whispers in the corridors beneath the club surfaced and it became apparent that there was no way forward between the ownership and the Scudetto winning coach. Before you could blink, Simone Inzaghi was in place as his replacement and this was not unpalatable. It was a shame one project was over, but there was a muted excitement for the next.

The Suning Groups plight was no secret. It had been well documented that their financial state was partly down to the Chinese Government and the pandemic. It had been no secret that the once Chinese powerhouse could not put the money into the club they wanted. What followed was a number of meetings with potential owners and, finally, a bridge loan from Oaktree.

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Antonio Conte eventually spoke out about why he left and revoked the common consensus the Italian media had set and that he left because of cost-cutting. Instead, the man who led Inter to their first title since 2010 simply told Gazzetta Dello Sport that he left because he and the President had “different ideas” and that his project “never changed.” He wished Inter good luck, complimented Simone Inzaghi and walked away with his €12m salary.

He went on to add: “I look at the projects and I am willing to stay at home if they do not convince me. It is a question of vision, professionalism, intellectual honesty and principles that cannot be ignored.” This simply means that Conte had a vision that required money to be put into practice. The pandemic changed how the board could handle the situation, so he left.

Just like he did when Conte walked away from Juventus one day into preseason in 2014, Beppe Marotta quickly identified a replacement for the eruptive coach. It had been Massimiliano Allegri seven years ago, it was Inzaghi this time. The man from Lazio who had performed miracles on a far less budget than some of their competitors. His style is similar to Conte’s in some respects, at least when it comes to working with variants of the 3-5-2. His footballing intelligence, man-management, and ambition are superb, but he does not have the silverware attached to him that Conte has. However, this means that he is hungry and happy to work within the new Inter parameters, as these are more profitable than those he had in Rome.

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Inzaghi is ready to adapt the squad Conte had built in his image. Christian Eriksen should have been the man deployed in Luis Alberto’s area, but the Dane’s petrifying incident at Euro 2020 and the following ICD implant mean his future in Serie A is in strong doubt. Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu is the man picked by Marotta to replace the former Spurs star in the middle of the pitch. The former Bayer Leverkusen star is the Nerazzurri’s second summer signing after Alex Cordaz. Available as a free agent, ‘Calha’ is also the first Rossoneri player to move to the opposite side of Milan since Antonio Cassano in 2012.

The Turkey international will undergo his medical tomorrow, and his imminent signing with the Nerazzurri shirt has already sparked controversy and debate. It is undoubtedly an intelligent move from Marotta, who, differently Conte, has recently confirmed his commitment to the club.

He may have had ups and downs during his time at Milan and inconsistency is surely a valuable talking point in support of the sceptical ones. However, his last 18 months at the San Siro have been superb, and the feeling is that he can further improve under a coach like Inzaghi, who loves quality midfielders who can link-up and provide the final pass. It’s intriguing to think about how the 27-year-old could develop under Inzaghi, who, however, will see at least one of the Nerazzurri stars walk away.

‘Another player leaves Milan for free’, fans and pundits react as Calhanoglu joins Inter

As of today, Achraf Hakimi is touted to be the only significant departure as his age and ability can attract big money, but as a wing-back, it is not seen as a crucial position or a difficult one to replace, unlike the forwards Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez.

Inter can still spend money and 21-year old Barcelona wing-back Emerson Royal looks like a possible replacement for the Morocco international. The money brought in from the sale could also fund moves for Emerson Palmieri or Marcos Alonso.

Finally, the hope for Inter is that Inzaghi will use the younger players and the likes of Andrea Pinamonti, Ionut Radu, Eddie Salcedo and more can be developed to become the new bright hopes. Inter have failed to do this for many years and this is what helps to create a legacy. Simone Inzaghi may not follow Inter’s current pace, but the hope is he can develop them to be a force for a long time in the future.

@RichHall80

 

 

 

 

 

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