Inter paying a high price for key error in January transfer window

Inter seem more and more dependent on Marcelo Brozovic and La Gazzetta dello Sport highlights the club’s mistake in letting Stefano Sensi join Sampdoria in January.

The Italy international moved to Marassi on loan during the winter transfer window, leaving the Nerazzurri short of options to replace Brozovic. The Croat has missed three games this season and the Nerazzurri won just one of them, needing extra time to beat Empoli in Coppa Italia in January.

Brozovic was also ruled out of their 2-0 loss against Sassuolo and yesterday’s 1-1 draw against Torino.

The defending Serie A champions are more and more dependent on the 29-year-old who sustained a calf injury against Liverpool last week and is the only deep-lying playmaker left in the team after Sensi’s loan move.

Matias Vecino replaced Brozovic yesterday, with Calhanoglu dropping deep to start the build-up. The game didn’t go as planned as the Nerazzurri were lucky to get away with a point thanks to a late equaliser of Alexis Sanchez.

La Gazzetta dello Sport analysed Inter’s performances highlighting how the lack of a natural replacement for Brozovic affected the Nerazzurri in Turin. Sensi struggled with injuries at Inter and has played five games at Sampdoria since his loan move to Marassi. Italy coach Roberto Mancini was among those who advised him to move to Marassi to earn regular playing time.

‘It must be considered what was not done during the transfer window (from Sensi onwards) to replace a player from whom Inter depend too much,’ wrote Luigi Garlando.

‘However, aside from the absentees, those who played should have done more in the key part of the campaign, showing the same spirit as Torino.’

Inter’s performances and results have dropped dramatically in 2022 as Inzaghi’s men only collected 13 points in nine matches, nine fewer than Juventus who are the best Serie A team in the new year.