Inter Milan's Champions League Squad Decision: New Signing Faces Immediate Setback Despite Internal Summit

When Inter Milan announced their squad for the UEFA Champions League, many fans were left puzzled. Why did Simone Inzaghi, the head coach, exclude Palacios — an €11 million signing and one of the club’s most crucial summer acquisitions — from the roster while opting to include Buchanan, who is still recovering from a serious injury? This decision sparked significant media attention and public debate. According to multiple reports, an internal summit was held within Inter Milan to discuss this very issue, with the club's management trying to persuade Inzaghi to include Palacios. However, the coach stood firm in his decision.

Inside the Internal Summit: Conflicting Views on Squad Selection

Italian and Argentine media outlets have provided different perspectives on the situation. Reports indicate that Inter Milan's management held a face-to-face meeting with the coaching staff in an attempt to convince Inzaghi to include Palacios in the squad. The rationale behind this was simple: including Palacios would align with the club's business model and strategic interests, especially considering the amount invested in the young talent.

However, Inzaghi remained adamant in his position. According to Italian media, "This decision was made after a direct discussion between the management and the coaching staff. The managers wanted to persuade Inzaghi to include Palacios, which would have had significant implications for the club's operational strategy. But Inzaghi expressed his concern that he lacked enough understanding of Palacios' abilities and could not ensure that the young player would be ready to shoulder the responsibilities required in a high-stakes competition like the Champions League."

Argentine outlet TYC Sports added that "Palacios, after joining Inter, was full of ambition, but missing out on the Champions League squad has marked the first major setback of his career at Inter. This means that Palacios will need to seize the 'few and far between' opportunities to play, impress the coach, and earn his trust."

Fan Reactions and Media Interpretations

Unsurprisingly, this decision has generated considerable controversy among fans and pundits alike. Even before the squad was finalized, Inter journalist Biaxin conducted a poll on social media, asking fans to choose between Joaquin Correa and Palacios. Approximately 70% of respondents preferred Palacios, citing Inter's aging squad and the significant investment made in the young player. They argued that he should be given a chance to prove himself. The remaining 30% favored Correa, not necessarily because of high expectations, but rather due to concerns that four forwards might not be enough to handle the intense schedule.

However, no one anticipated Inzaghi's ultimate decision: to exclude both Palacios and Correa from the squad and instead choose Buchanan. This choice came as a shock to most observers and has led to diverse interpretations from various Italian media outlets.

Media outlets in Rome have downplayed the importance of this decision, suggesting that a "rotational substitute" spot in the squad is not a big deal. However, they also noted that this episode "reveals Inzaghi's dissatisfaction with Oak Tree Capital's disregard for his transfer needs. While Inter spent a significant amount of money on Palacios, he is not the type of player Inzaghi wanted. Inzaghi's top targets were Mario Hermoso, Gudmundsson, or even Ricardo Rodriguez. Had it been any of these players, they would have surely made it to the Champions League squad. However, the management, particularly the financial stakeholders, made a different choice. Although Inzaghi respected the club's decision, he is also subtly asserting his stance: the club can dictate its 'business direction,' but squad registration and player selection remain within the 'technical domain' of the coach, and Inzaghi does not want excessive interference."

Sky Italia's reporter Marchetti offered a more optimistic view, stating, "Correa's exclusion from the squad is not surprising, as Inzaghi has confidence in the attacking lineup of Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, Taremi, and Marko Arnautović. Palacios being left out does not necessarily mean that there are significant doubts about the new signing from either the coaching staff at Appiano Gentile or the executives at the headquarters on Via Liberazione. The young player has only recently joined Inter, and Inzaghi’s system is not something a newcomer can quickly adapt to. The coach is more inclined to give Palacios a few months to gradually familiarize himself with the team, and then reconsider his inclusion in the squad in late January."

Why Buchanan Was Included: The Medical Perspective and Recovery Timeline

Another critical aspect of this situation is Buchanan’s unexpectedly rapid recovery. After suffering a tibial fracture during the Copa America, initial predictions indicated that Buchanan would not return until late November, or even December. However, just before the international break, Buchanan had already started light recovery training. Although the team’s medical staff remains cautious (conducting scans after every training session), clinical feedback has been positive over several consecutive days. Now, medical experts predict that Buchanan could be back on the pitch by early November.

La Gazzetta dello Sport pointed out that under the revised Champions League format, only three of the eight group stage matches are scheduled before November, while five will be played after November, with the final group game taking place at the end of January. If Inter fails to make it into the top eight but secures a spot in the top 24, they will have to play two additional knockout matches in February to decide whether they advance to the round of 16. From this perspective, it would be premature to say that using a squad spot for Buchanan is a "wasted move."

A correspondent from the pink newspaper added, "Buchanan is still fighting his battle against injury, but the coaching staff believes he already understands what is expected of him at Inter. The club is optimistic that he will make a significant impact once he returns, and Inzaghi hopes the Canadian winger will be a valuable asset in the latter stages of the group matches."

Strategic Calculations and Future Implications

Ultimately, Inzaghi’s decision reflects his strategic priorities for Inter’s Champions League campaign. While the exclusion of Palacios, a new and expensive signing, may appear controversial, it underscores the coach’s preference for experience and readiness over potential and investment value. It also signals his intention to maintain control over team selections without undue interference from the club's financial stakeholders.

On the other hand, the decision to include Buchanan shows a pragmatic approach, focusing on the latter stages of the Champions League group stage and knockout rounds, where the player could prove crucial. Given Buchanan’s promising recovery timeline, his inclusion might yet turn out to be a wise move that pays dividends in the months to come.

For Palacios, the road ahead will undoubtedly be challenging. He must seize every opportunity, however limited, to demonstrate his abilities and earn his place in the squad. Only by proving himself on the field can he hope to change the coach's current assessment and pave the way for his eventual inclusion in Inter Milan’s future plans.