The summer transfer market has already started for Inter with the arrival of Ever Banega on a free-transfer from Sevilla. The Argentine midfielder also has a European passport which should not be overlooked. 28-years-old next month, Banega has scored 19 goals in 261 professional appearances at club level and has represented his country 40 times scoring three goals. Coach Mancini has stated that he needs more quality in midfield; he may just have found the right player in Banega.
 

Banega will more than likely be inserted into a three-man midfield alongside Kondogbia and Medel. The latter has been linked with a move away from the nerazzurri and should this happen; Lazio’s Lucas Biglia is another player identified my Mancini. Swiss international Granit Xhaka was also a target but now he seems set to head to Arsenal. Another Lazio star, Antonio Candreva is also in the notebook of DS Ausilio.  

So what is the ideal role for Banega? At the start of his career with Boca Juniors he was more of a play-maker but with Unai Emery’s Sevilla he has become more of an attacking midfielder. In short, he’s taken the opposite route of Andrea Pirlo.
 

Banega is proof that young players need time and confidence. His technical qualities have never been in question but to reach the standards he is capable of he has needed the right guidance and he’s found this at Sevilla. El Tanguito has succeeded in replacing Rakitic when he left for Barcelona and he will face-up to him on Sunday evening in the Copa del Rey Final.

Adapted from an original article by Cristian Giudici. Translation by Steve Mitchell