The Portuguese and Mendes are waiting to understand the Catalans’ priorities, but after Christensen’s injury Flick needs a left-footed central defender. If the Italian went to Galatasaray the scenario would change
In the Cancelo soap opera the ball changed hands: first from Al-Hilal to Joao, then from the same player to Barcelona, always with Inter on the perch, waiting tactically but confidently. At the moment, therefore, everything depends on the latest Catalan move: despite the FFP restrictions, faced with the pressure of the highly influential agent Jorge Mendes, Laporta’s club is actually reflecting on the possibility of taking the Portuguese back for the next six months. Coach Hansi Flick, however, has other priorities, he asks for a left-footed central defender to replace the injured Christensen, and this will have a bearing on the final evaluation of the club. If Barça definitively decides to back out in the next few days, then Joao would immediately return to the Nerazzurri, where Chivu would guarantee him constant use on both flanks. If, however, the Catalans give the green light to Mendes and choose to recruit the winger during the current transfer market, then Inter would remain in the same position they are in now: without an important player on the right and with a team leaning on only one flank, that of Dimarco on the left. In fact, he would lose his preferred option to fill the hole that opened up with the Dumfries injury. Despite this, the intention is not to immediately look for another winger: at the moment, in agreement with Chivu, the club intends to remain like this, confirming its trust in Luis Henrique, and waiting for new possibilities “à la Cancelo”. That is, profiles with precise technical and economic characteristics that are not easy to find. Always net of new money to spend that could come from the sale of Frattesi, in the smell of Türkiye.
THE SCENARIO
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Cancelo was and is considered by Inter to be a simple “opportunity”, something unexpected but very useful in the economy of the game. For this reason, it should be seized upon under certain conditions: Al-Hilal has, in fact, guaranteed the payment of a very large part of the maxi-salary, also because in this case they would receive a defender dear to Inzaghi, Acerbi or De Vrij. In short, for the Oaktree club it is worth waiting and “depending” on other people’s evaluations. Without the immediate opening of Cancelo, however, president Beppe Marotta and director Piero Ausilio intend to move with caution and do not want to immediately divert their attention elsewhere. In fact, in an initial, broad exploration carried out by Inter, no low-cost flankers particularly suited to Chivu’s 3-5-2 were identified. In short, people with different characteristics from those of those in the squad today and capable of playing on both flanks without firing a shot. In this case, therefore, the chances of growth would increase for Luis Henrique, who against Bologna will make his eighth match in a row as a starter, and the wait for the return of the injured Darmian, now on the verge of being called up, would grow. Without underestimating the hypothesis, but at the moment only during the race, of the Frenchman Andy Diouf. At the beginning of March, Dumfries will return to its homeland, with the desire to regain shape and pitch in view of the World Cup. In this context, however, keep an eye out for possible shocks: Cancelo-style opportunities can always happen along the transfer market and, above all, the scenario could change with the possible 35 million guaranteed by Galatasaray for the Frattesi deal. That money would give Marotta and Ausilio the ammunition to invest immediately and more easily on the right too. In short, the situation is evolving, even if Inter’s priority remains that of the last few days: there is prudence, but also confidence that the thoughtful Cancelo will eventually be convinced to play in Milan again.