There where no one has succeeded since Juventus. Inter are already thinking about 21. 20 is a stellar number and it’s understood. But the idea of Oaktree, the managers and Simone Inzaghi is to open a cycle of championships. Since 2020-21, that is, since the Nerazzurri interrupted the dominance of Juventus triumphs, no club has managed to confirm itself, to win the title for two consecutive seasons. Here it is, the challenge. Here is the leap forward that Lautaro and his companions are called upon to make. With an advantage compared to the past. In 2021 the Italian champion team that Inzaghi inherited from Conte was turned upside down by the sales of Lukaku and Hakimi. Now that won’t be the case. Now it’s different. We start again from the second star to go even higher, with a staff that will not need to be excessively retouched.
The market
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Continuity is an advantage. It’s “the” advantage. Inter thinks for today and tomorrow. He has already added two potential starters to a team that dominated the last championship. Not two side operations, but two players capable of taking the front row, read Taremi and Zielinski. But it’s not over. Because Inzaghi will also be given a top-tier goalkeeper as well as a prospect, so as to join Sommer with a player of equal potential. Then the rest of the market will depend on the exits. And Inter have put themselves in a position, by closing the Taremi-Zielinski deal months early, to be able to wait. The plan includes the desire to include an additional striker in the squad. In recent weeks, the option linked to Depay, who leaves Atletico Madrid at zero, was also explored, but the matter was no longer followed up. The target is called Gudmundsson, for which we need to give in. Who? Carboni and Arnautovic first of all, the first to build a treasure and the second to free up space in the squad.
Development
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But it is right to also go beyond the field. Beyond the market aspect. Oaktree has a three-year development plan for Inter, within which the US fund wants/needs to make a positive mark in many respects. In terms of the value of the squad, for example: this explains the recommendation to managers to push for investments in young players, who are also futuristic in terms of price tag. And then, in terms of revenues: the budget as of 30 June will be closed with a deficit of between 40 and 50 million, the objective (not simple) is to break even in 12 months, taking advantage of the revenues from the new Champions League and the World Cup to club. Then there is a theme linked to visibility. And to a brand that needs to be made as successful as possible to hunt for markets that have hitherto been little explored: the horizon shifts from East to West, with the United States becoming the main point of reference. But Inter’s development plan cannot ignore the stadium. It is a topic that has only been touched upon by the new owners for the moment: next week should be the time to delve deeper into some issues.
Three-year period
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Oaktree wants Inter to be dominant in Italy and as competitive as possible in Europe. And you have great faith in the managers who built the victories. As well as on the coach: this week the agreement with Inzaghi should be extended until 2027. Coincidentally, the same deadline as sports management, the same three-year horizon that Oaktree has given itself. To win again we need to grow further, woe betide you if you stop to remember the domination of the previous championship. Inter haven’t won championships in series since the Mancini-Mourinho era. Inzaghi wants more front pages.
