MILAN – Revolving door. In recent years the role that has undergone the most changes in the Inter squad has been the usually most stable one: the goalkeeper. This summer market is no exception either. The Nerazzurri club has finalized the purchase of the Spaniard from Genoa, Josep Martinez. The medical visits are scheduled for tomorrow, then the contract will be signed. With this addition, Inter settles the role of deputy Sommer with the prospect of raising the owner of the future at Pinetina, given that the twenty-six year old Martinez is nine and a half years younger than the Swiss (36 years old in December). The evolutions have been continuous since the company had to plan the succession to Samir Handanovic at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Inter: Who went through the revolving door?
He was signed on a free transfer André Drunk, who was the protagonist of a period of run-off with the Slovenian before becoming a permanent starter, then living months as an absolute protagonist also by virtue of his ability with his feet in the setting phase (which emerged at the highest level in the Champions League final, lost in Istanbul against Manchester City). The Cameroonian had to wait a few weeks between August and September also because Handanovic had the rank of captain, a circumstance which did not make the change in management of Simone Inzaghi. At the end of the 2022-23 season an even more massive change took place between the posts. Handanovic left football at 39, while Onana was sold to Manchester United to realize a capital gain of over 50 million, which was decisive in setting up the summer transfer market a year ago.
Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio have focused on Yann Sommer and Emil Audero. The Swiss responded excellently with a technical security worthy of a great interpreter of the role. Audero was reliable in the few occasions he had. But a new change was necessary to intervene with a broad perspective on the horizon. Martinez was chosen to become the main keeper when Sommer says goodbye to Pinetina. A necessary apprenticeship period in the shadow of an element of notable experience such as the former Bayern Munich. With a curiosity that unites him with Onana. Martinez, like the Cameroonian, also grew up in the Barcelona youth system. The now former Genoa player joined in 2015, just when Onana began his career among the professionals by moving to Ajax. A coincidence that fits very well with this revolving door climate of Inter for the last two years. A retaliation after the long era of Handanovic, which lasted more than a decade.
