With the transfer window shut, Football Italia rates the transfer campaigns of the big clubs, and it was a summer of quiet progression for Inter.
The Nerazzurri spent big last summer after the arrival of Chinese owners Suning, with Joao Mario, Gabriel Barbosa and Antonio Candreva among the arrivals.
January saw the addition of promising midfielder Roberto Gagliardini, but after a succession of changes on the bench, they finished outside of the European places.
With the transfer window shut, Football Italia rates the transfer campaigns of the big clubs, and it was a summer of quiet progression for Inter.
The Nerazzurri spent big last summer after the arrival of Chinese owners Suning, with Joao Mario, Gabriel Barbosa and Antonio Candreva among the arrivals.
January saw the addition of promising midfielder Roberto Gagliardini, but after a succession of changes on the bench, they finished outside of the European places.
New Coach Luciano Spalletti arrived from Roma this summer, and it was expected that Suning would once again invest heavily in the squad.
Instead though, it was arguably the retention of key players which proved to be the high point of the Beneamata’s summer.
Chelsea were linked with Antonio Candreva, but it was Manchester United’s extended pursuit of Ivan Perisic which caused the real anxiety for Interisti.
The ownership held firm to their €50m valuation though, something the Red Devils ultimately refused to pay, and Spalletti was able to hold on to a player he had already identified as key.
It was widely acknowledged that the Nerazzurri had underperformed last season given the squad at their disposal, and this summer was focused on strengthening weak areas and building for the future.
Milan Skriniar, a 22-year-old Slovak international, arrived to bolster the backline and should develop exponentially playing alongside Miranda.
Inter looked particularly shaky at full-back last season, something which should be addressed by the signings of Dalbert and Joao Cancelo, both of them 23.
Ever Banega failed to recapture his Serie A form, and his return to Sevilla is covered by the arrival of experienced Serie A operator Borja Valero, even if the Spaniard was dragged virtually kicking and screaming from his beloved Florence.
His Fiorentina teammates Matias Vecino has also joined, giving Spalletti far more options in the middle of the park than his predecessors.
Sporting director Piero Ausilio and technical advisor Walter Sabatini otherwise focused on building for the future, signing a host of young prospects.
After a protracted transfer saga, Yann Karamoh joined from Caen on deadline day, joining Facundo Colidio [17], Jens Odgaard [18], Flor van den Eynden [17] and Alessandro Bastoni [18].
These players are unlikely to feature this season – indeed Bastoni has been loaned back to Atalanta and Colidio can’t arrive until he turns 18 – but they represent long-term planning for the Beneamata.
There has still been frustration for Inter fans, most notably the failure to sign another centre-back which means Andrea Ranocchia remains as a backup option.
However, it’s difficult to argue that the Nerazzurri first XI is stronger than at this time last year.
In: Skriniar, Borja Valero, Vecino, Cancelo, Dalbert, Karamoh
Out: Palacio, Banega, Medel, Murillo, Kondogbia, Biabiany, Jovetic, Gabriel Barbosa
Score: B-