Inter Milan's Chance to Revive Former MVP as De Vrij Emerges After a Year of Silence

Recent Italian media coverage has been dominated by the drama surrounding Lazar Samardzic's father and his agent Rafaela Pimenta, but this saga, while entertaining, is ultimately straightforward in its conclusions. While Inter Milan may have missed out on a promising young talent due to some questionable family involvement, it could be a blessing in disguise. If this allocation of funds results in signing a championship-caliber defender, the deal could prove even more beneficial for Inter's ambitions. Indeed, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Benjamin Pavard is already preparing for a medical with the Nerazzurri, signaling a significant defensive boost. However, there is another piece of good news for Inter's defense: the potential resurgence of former Serie A MVP defender Stefan de Vrij.

Last season, Inter's defensive line faced significant challenges, partly due to off-field issues involving certain players and, more crucially, the rapid decline of de Vrij. Veterans Francesco Acerbi and Matteo Darmian held the line admirably across multiple competitions, helping the Nerazzurri navigate a difficult period. However, relying on Acerbi, now 35, and Darmian, approaching 34, was always a temporary solution fraught with risk. Players of this age tend to experience physical decline that isn't always linear; it can become a precipitous drop-off due to injury or deteriorating condition, as has been seen with former Inter players like Aleksandar Kolarov and Kwadwo Asamoah. Thus, revitalizing de Vrij's form is critical, not just for the player himself, but for Inter's season strategy.

De Vrij's decline over the past two seasons has been a significant concern for Inter. Once regarded as the best defender in Serie A, he has struggled with inconsistency. At his best, he was a reliable rotation option against weaker opponents, but at his worst, he risked gifting goals even during limited substitute appearances. Several factors contributed to his downfall, including tactical changes. Simone Inzaghi's system is different from Antonio Conte's, often exposing de Vrij's weaknesses. Yet, the most crucial factor was psychological. Inter had initially promised de Vrij a contract extension with a pay raise but later reneged due to financial difficulties, a move that deeply affected the player, who is known for his sensitive nature.

Despite these setbacks, de Vrij is only 31 years old, which is still considered the prime age for a center-back. There is a belief within Inter that he can be saved and revitalized. Over the past few months, de Vrij has been surrounded by transfer rumors. Before renewing his contract, he had the opportunity to leave on a free transfer, with his agent pitching him to several Premier League clubs. However, the offers he received did not meet his expectations, leaving him disappointed. He soon realized that the external conditions were not as favorable as staying with Inter. At the same time, Inter recognized that their limited funds were barely sufficient to replace the departing number 37 (Milan Skriniar) and Danilo D’Ambrosio, making it challenging to find another suitable player to replace de Vrij.

In the end, the two sides came back to the negotiating table and agreed on a short-term extension. Some might describe this as "coming full circle and finding the original path," while others might see it as a reluctant compromise due to a lack of better options. Either way, both the player and the club have decided to continue their journey together.

From de Vrij's perspective, the past year has been a rollercoaster of emotions. He went from feeling frustrated over the broken promise of a pay raise to realizing, after exploring other options, that staying at Inter was actually the best decision. This emotional rollercoaster might have actually reignited his fighting spirit and helped him regain his focus on the game. After the new Serie A season kicked off, an injury to Acerbi opened the door for de Vrij to return to the starting lineup. As Inter legend Giuseppe Bergomi has pointed out, these situations will occur frequently this season.

De Vrij seized the opportunity and delivered a solid performance: four clearances, one blocked shot, two interceptions of through balls, and three successful aerial duels out of four attempts. His hallmark skill — playing out from the back — was also on display, completing all 29 of his passes with a 100% success rate. After the match, several media outlets awarded him high marks, with the verdict being: "Is his best version back? We'll see. But this is certainly better than last season."

De Vrij himself broke his silence on social media after the match, posting just two words, "Sempre Nerazzurri," accompanied by a broad smile. It was his first post since August 2022, and over the past year, his silence had caused his follower count to drop to just over 700,000. It's hard to determine what he wanted to convey through his year of silence or what emotions he was dealing with. However, his return to social media after such a long break suggests he has moved past whatever was holding him back, which could be crucial for rediscovering his form.

Looking ahead, it's clear that de Vrij will face significant challenges this season. Although Inter's midfield has technically improved after their summer transfer activities, the departure of Marcelo Brozović has inevitably weakened their ability to cover ground and apply pressure in midfield. As a result, Inter’s center-backs will face more one-on-one duels and be required to track back more often, areas where even de Vrij at his peak struggled.

But if the past year's silence has taught de Vrij one essential lesson — that a professional footballer must perform well on the pitch to earn lucrative contracts, rather than relying on transfer rumors — then this season could be promising for him. If he can just be better than he was last season, from Inter’s perspective, he will effectively be a "new signing" who can significantly enhance their defensive strength.

In the current context, Inter's plans for de Vrij seem straightforward: restore his confidence, utilize his experience, and ensure that he remains a dependable part of the team. De Vrij's return to form is not just a personal triumph for the player but also a potential game-changer for Inter's defensive stability this season. With new signings and renewed resolve, Inter Milan might just have found the perfect balance between the old guard and the new, setting them up for another challenge on both domestic and European fronts.