Having won Serie A by 19 points and boasting the best record in both attack and defence, Inter Milan could be forgiven for resting on their laurels ahead of the new season, but behind the scenes the champions are working hard to prepare for the future.
The core of the team that scored the most goals and conceded the fewest league goals last season remains, but Simone Inzaghi is keen to integrate new players into his preferred 3-5-2 formation.
Inter’s transfers in the transfer window focused on providing strong options and rotation for the five-man midfield.
The free signings of the experienced Piotr Zielinski from Napoli and Carlos Augusto from Monza are in line with coach Inzaghi’s preference for a versatile midfield that can rotate regularly to take on both offensive and defensive roles.
Poland’s Zielinski’s greatest strength at Napoli was creating chances for strikers by creating space in tight areas and exploiting counterattacks, which fits well with Inter’s strategy.
Davide Frattesi, on permanent loan from Sassuolo, is expected to play the central anchor role in midfield, while veterans Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu are likely to take on more defensive roles to shield the back three.
Inter conceded just 22 goals in 38 league games last season, nine fewer than any other team, but several members of their back three are over 30 – Francesco Acerbi is 36, Matteo Darmian 34 and Stefan de Vrij 32.
Inzaghi may be looking for more options in defence to support Federico Dimarco, Alessandro Bastoni and Benjamin Pavard before the transfer window closes.
Between the posts is 26-year-old goalkeeper Josep Martinez, who was brought in from Genoa as a replacement for 35-year-old Yann Sommer and is expected to gradually position himself for a starting position.
Inzaghi has made minimal changes to the forward positions, with the impressive duo of Marcus Thuram and captain Lautaro Martinez scoring 37 goals between them in Serie A last season.
32-year-old Iranian Mehdi Taremi was brought in from FC Porto to replace departed Alexis Sanchez as the main reserve, while Marko Arnautovic’s loan from Bologna was made permanent despite his injury problems.
Inter begins its title defense on August 17 in Genoa.
