Inter Chasing Italians? Get Out!

By: Martha | October 25th, 2007

Dessena There were rumblings at the end of the last season about Roberto Mancini’s desire to make his team “more blue” (As in Azzurri, not as in sadder.) but, shockingly, nothing came of it, and their major arrivals over the summer were Honduran, Romanian and Chilean. Now, though, the story is back, this time in the context of fears that FIFA might introduce restrictions on the number of foreign players in each team, a rule that, obviously, would leave Inter unable to actually field 11 players.*

The Italian names most recently associated with the Nerazzurri are those of Parma midfielders Luca Cigarini and Daniele Dessena because, clearly, Inter are working on building a team made up entirely of midfield players. Both youngsters signed new, five-year contracts over the summer, but it’s hard to imagine either will still be at Parma by 2012, since the whole point of the club’s fantastic youth system has become creating geniuses and selling them off. Inter, obviously, have the money to be in the conversation for any highly rated player, but they have so many damn midfielders right now one wonders what they’d do with two more, particularly two so young — nurturing the youth is not exactly something for which Inter are know.

That said, the Nerazzuri midfield is aging in a huge way, and they’ll lose both Figo and, probably, Vieira at the end of the season. There is still a fleet of Argies to hold things down, as well as the odd Frenchman, Serb and Brazilian, but they’re certainly lacking in creativity at that position, despite their giant stockpile of bodies. If Moratti decides he’s willing to take a chance on youth while he’s panicking about new rules, he could kill several birds with one stone by bringing in the duo in question.

*It seems to me that there’s no way in hell this rule is going to happen. Michel Platani has spoken out against it because it conflicts with European law, and the two biggest clubs in Italy are laden with foreigners, and are sure to throw their considerable weight around in a huge, unattractive way if it comes to that. Is there any reason to think it might actually go into effect?

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Category: Inter, Rumors & News, Serie A

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Linda

I don't think the rule will ever happen, if only because of the English clubs. There is already this:

Last season, European football's governing body introduced a quota system designed, in theory at least, to rein in the trend for packing teams with foreigners and to maintain the development of domestic players. The rule applies to any club competing in European competition, so it is not just the big four who need to bear it in mind but also the tranche of teams angling for the Uefa Cup. Initially, four homegrown players had to be named in the squad, but that is currently being phased up. This season, the quota increases to six and by next season it will crank up to eight. Considering Uefa impose a squad size of 25, that means almost a third will be classed as homegrown.

And that seems to be all UEFA can manage.
RT

I agree Stankovic was much better last season, though I'd always be reluctant to throw around "consistent" where he is involved. I think it was Orsi who recently said Stankovic is the player that most frustrates Mancini? And he's 29, so starting to look unlikely that he'll ever 'turn it on' for good.

Doesn't mean that I don't feel he's important, rather I believe Inter would do well to bring in another quality player so we're not relying on Dejan or Vieira. Last thing I want is to see again is Inter using Burdisso in midfield in a critical match, as against Valencia. I get sick just thinking about that.
Martha

Stankovic was Inter's most consistent midfielder last year; I think the only player with a higher average grade over the course of the season from the big sports papers was Mutu. But he's been utter shit this year -- supposedly he's got a lingering foot injury, but I'll agree that he's not exactly inspired confidence thus far.
RT

I actually think Inter could use a new central midfielder, as soon as January. Vieira can't be counted on to stay healthy, Dacourt is featured far too often, and Stankovic is Stankovic. So barring a turnaround with Vieira's health or the sudden emergence of Pele, there's possibly an opening in midfield next to Cambiasso.
Francesco

Cigarini and Dessena are two very promising talents.