Does Pavard fix Inter Milan to win the Serie A?
Last season, fans with Inter Milan tickets were delighted on their Champions League progress with the team making a final against Manchester City. In their run-up to the final, they also had the luxury of defeating arch-rivals AC Milan in the semifinals.
Despite the Champions League triumph, Inter still needed more depth during the Serie A season, with fans with Inter Milan tickets quite disappointed that the team could not bring their A-game out.
Inter finished third, 18 points behind league winners Napoli.
This time, they want to take it further and now have formidable signings to make it happen.
Pavard changes shirts to Milan
Benjamin Pavard, the French defender, has officially left Bayern Munich after spending four full seasons with the club. He has signed a five-year contract with the club, delighting all fans with Inter Milan tickets.
Italian sporting director Giuseppe Marotta confirmed the transfer's completion, and both clubs' official announcements were awaited.
Due to his versatility, Pavard's arrival strengthens Inter Milan's central defence and right-wing positions. This signing comes after the departures of several defensive players, including Milan Skriniar, Danilo D'Ambrosio, Lorenzo Pirola, and Raoul Bellanova.
Pavard's departure from Bayern Munich was anticipated, as he had shown signs of disengagement, including refusing to celebrate a goal in a recent friendly match. The transfer was eventually completed for €28 million with €5 million in bonuses, following an initial offer of €25 million with €5 million in bonuses.
Pavard, a 2018 World Cup champion, will now join Inter Milan and is expected to have a leadership role in taking the side to the possible league title.
Losing Pavard is Massive
Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel has openly expressed his concerns about the departure of Benjamin Pavard to Inter Milan, describing it as "like losing two players" for the club.
Following a protracted transfer saga, Pavard finally switched from Bayern to Inter during the summer transfer window. While Pavard welcomed the move, Bayern Munich had some reluctance, primarily due to their efforts to secure a replacement for the versatile defender.
Tuchel, known for his astute tactical acumen, was reportedly opposed to Pavard's sale, citing the Frenchman's quality and versatility as key assets. Pavard was capable of providing cover both in central defence and on the right flank, making him an invaluable asset for Tuchel's tactical plans.
Ultimately, Bayern Munich allowed Pavard to join Inter Milan but could not secure a like-for-like replacement. This has left Tuchel with limited options in defence, especially concerning the right-back position. Tuchel highlighted the disparity in squad depth between the attack, where they have two players for each position, and the defence, where they face a shortage of options.
Tuchel has been very open that the void Benjamin Pavard brought in with his versatility is a challenge he needs to navigate this season.
Davy Klasson signed
Davy Klaassen is set to join Inter Milan on a free transfer from Ajax, bolstering their midfield options for the next two seasons. Klaassen has less than a year on his Ajax contract and arrived on Friday for medicals.
He signs a two-year deal with the club.
The 30-year-old midfielder, who has scored 93 goals in 321 appearances for Ajax, began his career as an attacking midfielder but can cover various roles in the midfield. He will provide backup for players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Nicolò Barella, adding more competition to the midfield.
Klaassen previously left Ajax in 2017 to join Everton in the Premier League but struggled to make an impact. He later moved to Werder Bremen and returned to Ajax in 2020. During his time in Germany, he scored 16 goals in 81 games for Werder Bremen.
Klaassen has also represented the Netherlands national team, scoring 10 goals in 41 appearances, and was part of the squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. On five different occasions, he has won the Dutch title with Ajax.
The team's move for Lazard Samardzic from Udinese made it through in August and paved the way for a much-needed investment in Pavard.
With Klassen coming through as a free agent, Inter have had a decent transfer window.
Squad Depth is an Issue!
Former Inter Milan CEO Ernesto Paolillo has shared his concerns about the squad depth at the club, particularly highlighting the absence of a suitable backup for midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu. Despite a flurry of activity during the summer transfer window, which saw twelve new arrivals at the club, Paolillo believes Inter Milan's squad still has notable gaps.
In an interview with Italian news outlet L'Interista, Paolillo emphasized the need for a top defender and midfielder to bolster the team's capabilities. While acknowledging that the club brought in quality and competitive players, he suggested room for improvement, giving the team an overall rating of 7/10 for their transfer window performance.
One of Paolillo's points of concern was the departure of Romelu Lukaku, a significant loss for Inter Milan. He regretted this key transfer and emphasized that the team still lacks a midfielder.
He clarified that his concern was not directed at those responsible for the signings but rather at the club's financial resources, which might constrain their ability to acquire a player of similar quality to Calhanoglu to provide adequate backup.
In particular, Paolillo highlighted the need for a player capable of stepping in for Calhanoglu, emphasizing that this player should possess a similar level of quality. Despite the numerous arrivals, there remains a sense that the club could strengthen the squad to ensure they are well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
Lukau's departure was inevitable - after his continuous announcements that he did not want to be playing for the club anymore. Even fans with Inter Milan tickets were adamant that they saw the end with Lukaku, although he was an impactful player for the side in the last season.