Strength in depth made all the difference at San Siro, writes Kaustubh Pandey, as Inter substitutes changed the game against Fiorentina.
There was a brief period in the game on Saturday when Fiorentina would have been feeling like proper European contenders, as they rode on Franck Ribery’s masterclass to go 3-2 up at San Siro. There was this feeling of deja vu creeping in, as La Viola were the only team that Inter had failed to beat last season and it seemed like another one of those days.
Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly shown interest in Inter duo Marcelo Brozovic and Radja Nainggolan, who are both expected to leave San Siro before October 5.
Nainggolan continues to flirt with Cagliari, where he spent 2019-20 on loan, but Tuttosport mentions the 32-year-old in links with Ligue 1 giants PSG.
The report claims the French champions are also interested in Brozovic, who has been linked with Monaco in recent weeks.
Cagliari are in talks to bring Radja Nainggolan back from Inter, this time on a permanent basis for circa €12m.
The midfielder was in Sardinia from January 2010-14, then returned on loan from the Nerazzurri last season.
His wife, who is currently battling cancer, is from the island and the move was also in part to ensure she was closer to her family.
Now ex-Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco has taken over the team and given Nainggolan even more reasons to make the move a permanent one.
Eusebio Di Francesco concedes Cagliari’s 1-1 draw away to Sassuolo was ‘the right result’ and is eager for Radja Nainggolan to return from Inter.
The Sardinians had taken the lead against the run of play through Giovanni Simeone, but a late Medhi Bourabia free kick snatched the point.
“The result is fair, although we had the chances to double our lead too and could’ve controlled the situation better,” the coach told Sky Sport Italia.
Lautaro Martinez bagged a brace when Inter returned to the pitch after the Europa League Final with a 5-0 win against Lugano.
The Nerazzurri played their first friendly match behind closed doors in Pinetina against the Swiss side and Achraf Hakimi made his first appearance at right.
Lautaro was joined by Alexis Sanchez up front in the first half, as coach Antonio Conte decided to change the whole team for the second.
‘Inter want to keep Radja Nainggolan,’ confirms Cagliari President Tommaso Giulini. ‘It’s impossible for us to sign him.’
The Belgium international spent last season on loan in Sardinia and rediscovered his form, seemingly enough to calm the doubts that Inter directors had about him a year ago.
“The meeting with Inter did not go well, he is staying in Milan,” Giulini told reporters after leaving the Nerazzurri HQ.
Cagliari President Tommaso Giulini warns that although Radja Nainggolan ‘is in love with’ the Sardinian club, they ‘cannot afford’ to purchase him from Inter.
The midfielder returned to Cagliari last summer on loan and rediscovered his confidence, but negotiations to extend that stay or even make it permanent have not progressed.
“One of the first things the coach (Eusebio Di Francesco) asked us was to work with Nainggolan again,” Giulini told reporters including Sportitalia.
CEO Mario Passetti confirmed Cagliari are working to bring Radja Nainggolan back to Sardinia and said new coach Eusebio Di Franceso has ‘started with great enthusiasm’ at the Sardegna Arena.
The Belgian returned to Milan after his loan deal with the Casteddu expired on August 31 and the Rossoblu are trying to sign him for 2020-21.
“He has returned to Inter but our will is clear. We are in talks with Inter and have worked continuously to have Nainggolan here for next year,” Passetti told Sky Sport Italia.
Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has revealed the Nerazzurri are ‘currently not able to invest’ in Sandro Tonali, who seems set for a move to rivals Milan.
Reports in Italy claimed Tonali was Inter-bound for weeks, but Milan have since surpassed the Nerazzurri and although the Italy international looks set for a move to San Siro, it’s now to the Rossoneri.
Ausilio claimed Inter never entered talks with Massimo Cellino’s Brescia and can’t afford to sign the youngster right now.
Inter have announced their return on September 7, but tomorrow Radja Nainggolan and Achraf Hakimi arrives for the medical tests.
Nainggolan’s time in Sardinia is up and he must return to San Siro, but Cagliari are still hoping to reach an agreement with Inter to sign the former Belgium international.
Hakimi, who arrives from Real Madrid this summer, will arrive tomorrow too and the duo will therefore anticipate the resumption of training, postponed because of the late end to 2019-20.
