Inter Milan Transfers: Reviewing Inter's Summer Transfer Business

Allan JiangTransfers CorrespondentSeptember 5, 2012

Inter Milan Transfers: Reviewing Inter's Summer Transfer Business

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    Here's a look at Inter Milan’s summer transfer business so far.

    The article will review Inter’s notable departures and their significant summer signings—the keyword being significant.

    Transfer ratings will be given to Matías Silvestre, Gaby Mudingayi, Walter Gargano, Fredy Guarín, Samir Handanović, Rodrigo Palacio and Antonio Cassano.

    The rating is based on economic efficiency, the affect the signing would have on Inter and whether it's a good signing in general.

Notable Departures

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    Sold Giampaolo Pazzini to AC Milan for Antonio Cassano 

    Regardless of Pazzini's hat trick against Bologna, Inter won out in the deal because Cassano is a better player and they received an extra €7 million. 


    Sold Goran Pandev to Napoli for €7.5 million

    It wouldn't surprise me if he spent more time during his Inter career defending than attempting to score or create goals. He was awful to watch during the 2010-11 season.

    Sold Luc Castaignos to Twente for €6 million

    When Pazzini looked lost on the field, why wasn't Castaignos thrown into the deep end? There will always be that question: what if Luc was given a fair chance? He was superb for Feyenoord and he's made a good decision to return to the Netherlands as opposed to sitting around in Italy doing nothing.

    As long as he's on good terms with Dusan Tadić, Castaignos will be a prolific goal scorer for Twente.

    Sold Maicon to Manchester City for €4.5 million

    He went from being the best right-back in the world to an error-prone defender. Post-José Mourinho, his tactical and positional discipline became nonexistent. Selling Maicon was the right decision, but Inter Milan supporters shouldn't forget his outrageous goal against Juventus and his herculean efforts during Mourinho's treble-winning season.

    Allowed Júlio César, Lúcio, Sulley Muntari and Diego Forlán to leave on free transfers

    César's form dipped, so when Inter attempted to restructure his deal, he wanted out (via naij.com):

    It all started during my summer vacation when Inter suggested that I reduce my salary. No player in my situation would have done that—I am not a hypocrite and I can talk openly about this. It became a tough situation for both parties. I then spoke to my representative and I thought this was a good choice. I'll terminate my contract with Inter Milan and thank the president Massimo Moratti for the seven wonderful years we have had together.

    From Queens Park Rangers' perspective, he's an upgrade over Robert Green.

    Lúcio won't be welcomed back at Inter after joining Juventus and saying: "The fans now tell me I am at a real club, that I need to forget Inter." The comment implies that Inter, a club that Lúcio won the UEFA Champions League with, isn't a real club.

    His last season for Inter wasn't that bad because he made tackles left, right and centre. It was just devoid of leadership, hence why the defence looked so discombobulated. You won't be seeing him in a Juve shirt anytime soon because he snapped his ankle ligaments.

    Muntari became an oddball under Mourinho's regime, as the Ghanaian was the antithesis of a prototypical Mourinho player. Muntari frequently turns over possession, he has low football IQ and he makes bone-headed decisions.

    Adriano "Bosman" Galliani signed Muntari on a Bosman and the Ghanaian ended up injuring himself on holiday—typical Muntari.

    There were already warning signs with Forlán, as he wasn't the same during his last season for Atlético Madrid. It was sad to watch him graft so hard for goals at Inter—it was as if he was playing for Manchester United again. Cancelling his contract to let him leave for Internacional had to be done to save face.

    No permanent deal reached for loanees Mauro Zárate, Angelo Palombo and Andrea Poli

    Zárate was shooting blind like Antonio Floro Flores. Palombo was just a squad player—casual Inter supporters wouldn't have even noticed him.

    Poli is an interesting case because when he came onto the scene as a Sampdoria prodigy, many expected big things from him. He's a good player, but there's nothing exceptional about him. Maybe he'll start to live up to his potential late in his career like Francesco Lodi.

Matías Silvestre

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    Signed from Palermo on loan

    Rating: 4/10

    Matías Silvestre is a decent defender, but he was average for Palermo last season. This loan deal would make sense if it occurred during his Catania days.

    He was Jekyll and Hyde against Roma because he'd save Inter's behind with a last-ditch tackle only to be caught out of position, allowing Roma to score.

Gaby Mudingayi

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    Signed from Bologna on loan

    Rating: 6/10

    Gaby Mudingayi was signed to bolster Inter Milan’s midfield depth.

    Last season, Mudingayi completed 162 tackles, which was the second-highest amount of tackles behind Arturo Vidal.

Walter Gargano

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    Signed from Napoli on loan

    Rating: 8.5/10

    Walter Gargano is a beast when it comes to box-to-box midfielders, but like Alex Song, the Uruguayan is not disciplined enough to play as a holding midfielder. 

    When Inter Milan play against the likes of Pescara, his habit of being caught upfield is covered because Inter are just a better team. However, against Roma, you begin to see problems that could plague Andrea Stramaccioni like Song did for Arsène Wenger.

Fredy Guarín

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    Signed from Porto for €11 million

    Rating: 6/10

    Fredy Guarín is a hard-working midfielder, but how on earth is he worth €11 million? He isn't an elite tackler, his concentration levels aren't that good and he doesn't orchestrate play.

    For someone who generally passes the ball sideways, he is prone to misplacing his passes. He only completed 71 percent of his passes against Roma, which isn't acceptable.

    He currently averages 4.5 shots per game (yes, he thinks he's a forward) and hasn't scored in the league yet.

Samir Handanović

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    Signed from Udinese for €11 million + 50 percent of Davide Faraoni's playing rights

    Rating: 10/10

    Samir Handanović is a world-class goalkeeper, who is arguably the best penalty-shot-stopper in the world.

    His injury couldn't have come at a more inconvenient time, but it's not a long-term injury and Luca Castellazzi will put in a decent shift.

Rodrigo Palacio

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    Signed from Genoa for €11 million

    Rating: 6.5/10

    Rodrigo Palacio overachieved last season with a purple patch of five goals and three assists in six games. €11 million for a 30-year-old isn't smart business because he won't be a long-term option and Inter Milan won't be able to make a profit off him.

Antonio Cassano

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    Signed from AC Milan for Giampaolo Pazzini  €7 million

    Rating: 10/10

    Forget about his personality or his off-field problems, Antonio Cassano is a genius on the field. 

    Inter Milan have two world-class playmakers in Cassano and Wesley Sneijder, albeit in different positions.

    Pazzini may have scored a hat trick, but Cassano will have the better season.

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