There`s a vast difference between simple evolution and radical revolution, a difference as wide as the continent Inter returned from yesterday morning, carrying regrets, thoughts, and tensions, all only superficially cooled. Perhaps holidays will be enough to soothe nerves and muscles, but the club`s decisions today will shape tomorrow`s possibilities. Rebuilding after a season without trophies will depend, at least in part, on the extent of squad renewal through the transfer market. Many Nerazzurri fans are pushing to turn the crisis into an extreme opportunity; for them, the elimination against the modest Fluminense and the subsequent dressing room drama would be useful triggers for a complete clear-out.
Yet, this doesn`t seem to be the path chosen by the club. If there is a revolution, it will be gentle, barely hinted at. It won`t be a simple coat of paint, certainly, as events have clearly shown that wouldn`t suffice, but new foundations won`t be laid either. It will be a natural evolution of a long-standing project, bringing in more young blood and some new tactical ideas from the coach. This is seen as the best way for a group, which the club doesn`t yet consider to be at the end of its cycle, to fire its last shots. This includes even the older players, the group of veterans whose contracts expire in 2026. Unless they find new arrangements themselves, the plan is to keep them all for another season. This includes Sommer, Acerbi, De Vrij, Darmian, and especially the evergreen Mkhitaryan. Inter is already aware that in a year`s time, a more significant intervention will be needed to replace everyone.
High Quality Additions
However, there will still be adjustments, including high-quality ones, and this is evident from the moves the club has already made. Inter has already spent nearly 70 million on the surprising Croatian Sucic, the Brazilian Luis Henrique who is still to be discovered, the new forward Bonny (who visited the club`s headquarters yesterday), and the strategic buy-out of Zalewski. All this talent is knocking on the door of the starting lineup, in addition to the crucial decision to keep Pio Esposito within the team. The remaining market interventions, however, will be specific and not radical. Not the drastic overhaul one might expect in such a situation. For instance, a fifth forward is expected in August – likely an attacking midfielder, perhaps low-cost and, for once, not necessarily young. In essence, a final touch to add players with different characteristics than usual to the attacking department. In midfield, the focus is on Calhanoglu. If the Turk were to return home as a hero, a spot would need filling in the middle. In defense too, any moves are linked to an outgoing player, but not veterans like Acerbi and De Vrij, rather the 24-year-old Bisseck, one of the Nerazzurri players most sought after in the Premier League. From this potential sale, useful funds would arrive for the pursuit of Parma`s young star Leoni.
Conservation Approach
The transfer market is always foreign, unpredictable territory. Incoming opportunities, but especially offers for the club`s prized assets, are always around the corner. These, however, would represent temporary and forced deviations from the conservative philosophy chosen by the Nerazzurri club. Inter has experienced directors, and President Marotta and Sporting Director Ausilio work closely with Chivu. They are all convinced that the dressing room `SOS` has been resolved, and that from the training camp onwards, there will be no rust to clean or dust layers to sweep away. The only thorny issue is limited to the unpredictable Calhanoglu, while there won`t be a need to sell Thuram due to the reported strains in his relationship with Lautaro. Irresistible offers would change the picture, but the Frenchman`s clause, 85 million until July 30th, is not the most convenient; paying it would be a rather revolutionary act.
