The gradual decay of Inter's primavera

Destro has developed leaps and bounds since leaving the Nerazzuri

The outgrowths of this negligence are Mattia Destro and Leonardo Bonucci.

Bonucci was loaned out to Trevisio & Pisa, where he gave a clear demonstration of his talent. Being valued at close to 4m at the ripe age of 21 testified the potential of the silky defender, but with only a couple of starts, he was shipped of to Genoa as a sweetener for the deal that brought Thiago Motta and Diego Milito.

At present, the defender is one of the best in the Peninsula, and clearly beyond Inter’s means. Destro’s case comes with a sense of irony for the club – At a time when the club spent on a jaded Diego Forlan, Roma spent a hefty 15m on a young Mattia Destro – a classic Italian center-forward – a better prospect than any in Inter’s roster.

Massimo Moratti’s ‘Year Zero’ is a project in which the club would claw back to the fundamentals to start afresh has come to an abrupt ending, with the club probably taking a step backwards as represented by the signing of Tomasso Rocchi as a backup to Milto and Palacio, despite the availability of two primavera prospects in Livaja and Samuel Longo.

“Let’s say that everything now is a fresh start, with a clear idea to put us in a position to do well, so yes, this is a ‘year zero’. It is a new beginning that had and brings enthusiasm..” – Morrati

The soaring start that the club made under Strammacioni’s guidance resulted in a hike of expectations – by the hierarchy and fans alike. The long term goal of sustainable development took a backseat, and the shortsightedness of immediate success came to the fore once again – Naturally, the club struggled to compete with the elite, and the project turned to be a dismal failure.

At a time when clubs around the continent have resorted to prudence, Inter have tried to follow the philosophy of lavishness. The identity of the club as an European powerhouse now rests at stake. A string of substandard campaigns have led to various quarters of the media branding the club as a sinking ship.

In this state of uncertainty, patience and faith remain the two key virtues at the disposal of the footballing brains of the club, and both would be needed in abundance if Inter are to make the climb once again under the guidance of a man who is known to revive falling institutions.