Now it’s enough. Inter need to leave year zero and restart once again, but this time, they need to make a serious challenge and in football it’s like in life; you need to lay the foundations for the future, plan, look forward and anticipate. 
 

A factor, especially the latter, that could be decisive. Especially in these times where it seems to be who spends better spends less and in Italy, resources are scarce for most clubs. In a world where there are so many players around Europe whose contracts are coming to an end in the summer, Leonardo could be a shot in the arm to (Sporting Director) Ausilio, working alongside Javier Zannetti to ensure players such as Ever Banega (out of contract at Sevilla this summer) can arrive at the San Siro.  

The purchase of the Argentine international still remains under wraps, but should the nerazzurri secure his services next season, Inter could finally have found the sort of player that the fans expect to see in their clubs colours. In his best season for Sevilla, the 27-year-old played in the free role behind the strikers but he can also play as the holding midfielder. Here is where there could be a compromise with another potential summer target, Yaya Toure. However, the Ivorian is five years older than Banega and would be less compatible in the current team.  

If Inter fans were watching the Europa League semi-final first-leg on Thursday between Shakhtar and Sevilla, their appetite for the arrival of Banega would have been wetted. The Argentine was simply sublime and demonstrated that he is a true leader. The fans will continue to dream, if Mancini can add this touch of class to his starting XI, with certainty we can say, that this will be Inter’s best signing for the past five years.


By Pasquale Guarro, translation by Steve Mitchell