WORLD FOOTBALL

    Inter Milan: Grading Nerazzurri's Summer Transfer Moves

    Allan JiangTransfers CorrespondentJuly 11, 2012

    Inter Milan: Grading Nerazzurri's Summer Transfer Moves

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      Inter Milan has already made several moves in the summer transfer window, but will their new signings pan out?

      Massimo Moratti’s leap of faith in appointing young manager Andrea Stramaccioni would indicate that Inter Milan are going young and cheap. Letting the likes of Lúcio, Diego Forlan, Goran Pandev and Sulley Muntari leave reinforces that belief. 

      Even so, Inter's summer signings contradict the notion that the club is rebuilding with youngsters.

      Here are the grades for their notable first-team summer signings so far. 

    Matías Silvestre

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      Signed on loan from Palermo

      Grade: C+

      Davide Astori is a much better option than Matías Silvestre.

      Last season, Silvestre's knack for scoring goals covered up his tendency to make mistakes.

      He gave away a penalty and looked mediocre in a 2-0 loss to Catania. He was all over the place in a 4-4 draw with Inter Milan.

      The game against Inter also had a tinge of déjà vu. On opening day, he'd had more bad moments than good in Palermo's epic 4-3 win over the Nerazzurri.

      In a 4-4 draw against Chievo, Fabrizio Miccoli came to play, but Silvestre and his fellow defenders certainly didn't. Do people remember Silvestre's forgettable defending? No, because he scored an 89th-minute equaliser. 

      So, why is this a C+ signing? There's hardly any financial risk with loan deals. Also, Silvestre is still better than Andrea Ranocchia, who was a defensive liability last season. 

    Rodrigo Palacio

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      Signed from Genoa for €11 million

      Grade: B

      Rodrigo Palacio is a good player, but he's a classic overachiever.

      Heading into last season, he had scored 20 goals in 69 games for Genoa—no one could have predicted 21 goals in 34 games.

      He was streaky last season. He scored seven goals in a five-game stretch, and then scored five goals and had three assists in a six-game stretch. 

      Perhaps his mercurial form is the reason why Inter Milan paid €11 million, which is a steep price for a 30-year-old.

      In nine career games against AC Milan and Juventus, Palacio has only found the net once. If he doesn't play well, he's a shoo-in for the Bidone d'Oro. 

    Fredy Guarín

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      Signed from Porto for €11 million

      Grade: B

      Just like overpaying for Francisco Farinós all those years ago, Inter Milan have done it again with Fredy Guarín. 

      Aside from running a lot, listening to management and closing down opponents, Guarín doesn't have any distinctive traits that would merit €11 million. 

      Will he be an important player to Inter? Yes, because every club needs a selfless team player like Guarín. 

    Samir Handanović

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      Signed from Udinese for €11 million plus Davide Faraoni

      Grade: A+

      Samir Handanović ditched UEFA Champions League football with Udinese for an opportunity to play with Inter Milan. 

      According to UEFA, Handanović saved 14 of 39 penalties in Serie A. €11 million and a youth player for a world-class goalkeeper is excellent business—especially with Júlio César seemingly down and out. 

      Please read Top 20 Underestimated Summer Transfers

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