Former Inter Milan Stalwart Aims to Save Struggling Star: Creating the Next Mkhitaryan or Pandev?

During the international break, newspapers often struggle for content, leading to the creation of numerous baseless rumors about Inter Milan. Recently, claims surfaced that Alexis Sanchez missed national team training due to a fallout with Inter’s management, and that Inter was interested in signing free agent Papu Gomez. Despite these rumors being swiftly debunked by the club, some still cling to these stories, using them to argue they could run the club better than CEO Giuseppe Marotta. Such gossip often intensifies before big matches, like the upcoming Milan derby. Instead of wasting energy on these rumors, it’s better to focus on football itself. Let's talk about two individuals: Sylvinho and Kristjan Asllani.

In the early hours of the morning, during the European Championship qualifiers, Albania secured a 2-0 victory over Poland, led by superstar Robert Lewandowski. With the Czech Republic and Poland in their group, Albania currently sits atop the table with 10 points from five matches, significantly boosting their chances of qualifying for the Euro 2024 finals. This minor upset has earned praise for coach Sylvinho, a former Inter Milan assistant from 2014 to 2016, who has also served as an assistant for the Brazilian national team and managed clubs like Lyon and Corinthians.

Sylvinho’s tenure with Albania has been marked by his successful utilization of Kristjan Asllani. Asllani, a talented young player with solid technical skills, excels in long-range shooting and passing, and has honed his set-piece abilities over years of practice. He also possesses the stamina to cover 12-13 kilometers per match. However, finding the right position for him has baffled several coaches. As a lone defensive midfielder, he is somewhat physically fragile and struggles under heavy pressing. As a mezzala in a three-man midfield, his forward runs and attacking contributions are not his strongest suit.

Despite being Albania’s highest-valued player for the past 2-3 years, Asllani was mostly a substitute before Sylvinho’s arrival, mirroring his situation at Inter Milan. However, his experience with the Albanian national team has been slightly better, as his compatriots encourage him, unlike certain Inter fans who have forgotten their passion for the club and constantly criticize him, calling him a flop and suggesting he’s only fit for Serie C.

Sylvinho’s appointment brought a turning point for Asllani. In June, he provided an assist and scored a goal—voted the best goal of that UEFA round—in consecutive matches, securing his place as a starter. In the recent match against Poland, Asllani had 51 touches, completed 31 of 40 passes, won four duels with a 100% success rate, made three tackles, one interception, one clearance, and took three shots. He earned the highest midfield rating from data analysts, surpassing even his teammates who had scored or assisted.

Crucially, Sylvinho discovered the optimal role for Asllani: the left central midfielder in a 4-3-1-2 formation. However, his actual position map shows that during offensive phases, Asllani drops back to support the defense rather than pushing forward like other mezzalas. This makes him a key player in maintaining the team’s balance, utilizing his strengths in covering ground, dueling, long passing, and shooting from distance. This role maximizes his talents while minimizing his weaknesses, offering a strategic approach that Inter Milan could consider.

Asllani’s struggles at Inter have often stemmed from trying to play as a lone defensive midfielder, similar to Marcelo Brozovic or Hakan Çalhanoğlu, a role in which he hasn’t excelled. Late last season, coach Simone Inzaghi experimented with Asllani as a mezzala during substitute appearances, but he didn’t stand out enough to displace Henrikh Mkhitaryan or Nicolò Barella. Consequently, many voices called for selling or loaning Asllani during the summer transfer window. However, Asllani chose to stay and compete at Inter, possibly because he saw an opportunity.

With the arrival of Davy Klaassen and Davide Frattesi, Inter’s midfield now leans towards an attacking focus, creating a "heavy on attack, light on defense" structure. Given this context, a player like Asllani, who excels more in defensive duties than offensive ones, becomes more valuable. While enhanced midfield attacking power can help secure points against weaker teams, relying solely on Çalhanoğlu for defensive duties against stronger opponents could overburden the Turkish midfielder. In this scenario, Asllani’s rise in the Albanian team and his role could inspire Inter Milan to use him in a "non-typical box-to-box" capacity, supporting a defensive midfielder in a double-pivot or dropping back during offensive plays to free up Çalhanoğlu.

From Inter’s perspective, Asllani’s resurgence with the national team and potential participation in the Euro 2024 finals, thereby increasing his market value, is a positive development. If he can carve out a role for himself amidst the fierce competition in Inter’s midfield and make meaningful contributions, he might well follow in the footsteps of players like Mkhitaryan or Goran Pandev, becoming a star from a smaller footballing nation.