Inter Milan have endured a disappointing downturn in fortunes, not finishing higher than fourth since 2011 and failing to secure a single trophy during that time.
The Nerazzurri have had their fair share of world-renowned talent, however, but some of those were let slip through the net far too early.
Here are 13 former Inter Milan players that the Italian club moved on before the time was right, resulting in the side missing out on some real quality.
Andrea Pirlo
Seasons at Inter: 1998 – 2001
Joined: AC Milan
Transfer fee: £12.6 million
Having spent most of his career with AC Milan it’s perhaps easy to forget that Andrea Pirlo spent three seasons with their fierce rivals, Inter, prior to joining them.
Pirlo moved to Milan in 2001 from Inter, having struggled to become a regular in the set-up at the Nerazzurri, making just a handful of appearances for the side in his time there.
Loan moves to Brescia and Reggina would follow before a permanent move to AC Milan was agreed. It was there that Pirlo’s ability as a deep-lying playmaker rather than a No.10 would be exploited.
Clarence Seedorf
Seasons at Inter: 2000-2002
Joined: AC Milan
Transfer fee: Swap Deal + £15.75m
Another player to make the cross between rival clubs, Seedorf was sold to AC Milan in 2002 after just two years with Inter.
A swap deal was announced by the two clubs prior to the 2002 World Cup and saw defender Francesco Coco move in the other direction.
Coco would go on to make just 26 appearances in five years with Inter, while Seedorf would establish himself as one of Europe’s greatest midfielders, making 300 league appearances over a decade spell and winning two Serie A titles and two Champions Leagues.
Adriano (first spell)
Adriano with British supermodel Naomi Campbell (L) at Milan fashion week in February 2004.
Seasons at Inter: 2001-2002
Joined: Parma
Transfer Fee: £8.96 million
For all his talent, when one looks at Adriano’s career, there is a feeling that the Brazilian striker could have done so much more.
The 36-year-old’s career just feels wasted. He retired in May 2016 after a five-month spell at Miami United, a club co-owned by Paolo Maldini, in the American fourth-tier regional league where he was coached by Alessandro Nesta.
He was without a club for two years prior to that move after being released by Brazilian side Atlético Paranaense, having made only four appearances.
Adriano spent two spells with Inter Milan but we’re sure the Serie A club regretted letting the forward leave the first time. The South American enjoyed arguably his most prolific spell during his two years with Parma, having moved to the side in 2002.
Inter subsequently decided to sign the striker back in 2004 and he enjoyed another five years at the San Siro, but how the officials will wish Adriano had displayed the efficiency he had during his spell with Parma.
Dennis Bergkamp
Seasons at Inter: 1993-1995
Joined: Arsenal
Transfer Fee: £7.88 million
Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp moved to the Premier League side in 1995 as Bruce Rioch’s first signing as manager, having spent two years with Inter.
The Dutchman’s time in Serie A was difficult, with the forward struggling due to injuries and the changing of the boss. He was sold following the signing of Maurizio Ganz.
However, if Inter had built the team around Bergkamp, as Arsène Wenger did at Arsenal, they would have been treated to a master-class in football from the incredible front-man, who would stay with the Gunners until his retirement in 2006.
Roberto Carlos
Seasons at Inter: 1995-1996
Joined: Real Madrid
Transfer Fee: £4.2 million
Inter Milan fans only have one person to blame for Roberto Carlos lasting just one season at the club – current Crystal Palace manager, Roy Hodgson.
Carlos moved to Serie A in 1995 but lasted just one year before forcing through a transfer to Real Madrid. It was at the La Liga side that the Brazilian became a first-choice left-back for over a decade.
So what about Hodgson made the defender depart?
According to this interview with FourFourTwo, Carlos said: “My problem at Inter was Hodgson, Roy Hodgson. He wanted me to play as a forward when I’m a defender. I spoke to Massimo Morratti [the Inter president] to see if he could sort things out and it soon became clear that the only solution was to leave.”
Jocelyn Angloma
Seasons at Inter: 1996-1997
Left for: Valencia
Transfer Fee: £840,000
Angloma, winner of the 1993 Champions League with Marseille, lasted just one season with Inter Milan in Serie A despite making 30 appearances for the club.
A move to Valencia was probably seen as a curtain call for the right-back by his former Italian team, but the French international would go on to play another five years with the Spanish team, helping them to win La Liga and reach two Champions League finals.
Youri Djorkaeff
Seasons at Inter: 1996-1999
Left for: Kaiserslautern
Transfer Fee: £1.05 million
Youri Djorkaeff enjoyed success during his three seasons with Inter Milan, helping the club to UEFA Cup victory in the 1997-1998 season before departing aged 31.
Perhaps it was seen as clearing out an older player by Inter, but the Frenchman played for another three years at Kaiserslautern in Germany before becoming a key player for Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League.
The forward’s performances in England during his twilight years suggest that Inter were too hasty in letting this guy go.
Diego Simeone
Seasons at Inter: 1997-1999
Left for: Lazio
Transfer Fee: Unknown
Defensive midfielder Diego Simeone was signed to Inter Milan in 1997 and played for two seasons at the club before moving on to Lazio, joining a large Argentinian group of players brought together by Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Simeone would go on to enjoy serious success with his new side in the centre of the park, winning the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia in his first full-season.
Even worse for Inter, the future Atlético Madrid manager would, on the last day of the 2001-2002 campaign, score against his old side to effectively stop them from winning the division.
Angelo Peruzzi
Seasons at Inter: 1999-2000
Left for: Lazio
Transfer Fee: £12.53 million
With Edwin van der Saar moving to Juventus, Inter Milan fans will have been thrilled to see Italy international Angelo Peruzzi joining the club in 1999.
However, things did not go well for the goalkeeper in Milan and just a year later he moved to Lazio, where he would play for another seven seasons.
In that time, the shot-stopper won a Goalkeeper of the Year award and helped his side to claim the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana.
Adrian Mutu
Seasons at Inter: 2000
Left for: Verona
Transfer Fee: £2.8 million
Adrian Mutu’s problems during his time in the Premier League have been well documented but his time with Inter Milan was also short and frustrating.
The striker moved to Italy midway through the 1999-2000 season and although the Romanian netted on his debut he would make just ten appearances before being sold to Verona in the summer.
Mutu would, however, enjoy much goalscoring success in Italy post-Inter, regularly netting for Verona, Parma, Juventus and Fiorentina.
Fabio Cannavaro
Seasons at Inter: 2002-2004
Left for: Juventus
Transfer Fee: £7 million
Cannavaro is arguably one of Italy’s greatest ever centre-backs so it’s bewildering how Inter Milan didn’t make it work for the defender.
Joining in 2002, the defensive enforcer was often played out of position and struggled for fitness before departing for Juventus two years later.
Following his move, Cannavaro became a rock at the back for both the Old Lady and Real Madrid, proving that the Nerazzurri were wrong to let him depart.
No defender has won the Ballon d’Or since Cannavaro in 2006, and with Messi and Ronaldo still performing at the highest level, we might still have to wait some time.
Philippe Coutinho
Seasons at Inter: 2008-2013
Left for: Liverpool
Transfer Fee: £9.1 million
Despite joining the club as a 17-year-old, Inter Milan seemed to show little faith in Coutinho, who in turn became frustrated with the Italian side for his lack of action.
This Brazilian wizard would move to Liverpool in January 2013 and quickly become an established first-team player for the side.
Now a £142m player, the 26-year-old is turning out for one of the most prestigious sides in Europe, scoring 16 goals in 51 appearances so far for Barcelona.
Thiago Motta
Seasons with Inter: 2009-2012
Left for: PSG
Transfer Fee: £8.05 million
Thiago Motta left Inter Milan for Paris Saint-Germain in 2012 to follow his dream of playing for the French club, but the Serie A side evidently missed his passing ability for some time following his transfer.
Motta’s dream move worked out perfectly as the midfielder made 232 appearances for the Parisians, helping them to 13 major trophies before retiring at the end of the 2017/18 campaign.
Inter, meanwhile, have failed to win a single trophy during that time.
The post Error of Judgement: 13 players Inter let go too soon appeared first on Squawka News.
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