Inter Milan's Season's Worst: Arnautovic as the Biggest Challenge and Inzaghi's Revealing Smile

Inter Milan faced a comical yet frustrating situation after being defeated twice by Sassuolo. The relegation-threatened side secured over 20% of their season's points from victories against the reigning champions. This ironic twist has led to much mockery directed at Inter. The question of who performed best for Inter on the pitch is debatable. While some players had moments of brilliance, none were decisive or outstanding.

On the other hand, the worst performer was clear to most fans: Marko Arnautovic. His performance was rated even lower than Denzel Dumfries, who committed a critical error. Fans have been relentlessly mocking the Austrian, and the Italian media rated him the lowest among Inter players in the match, a recurring theme this season. La Gazzetta dello Sport commented, “Inter made 12 signings this season, some of which have been very successful, like Thuram, Sommer, and Pavard. However, Inter has realized that three signings have failed: Sanchez, Klaassen, and Arnautovic. The first two errors will be corrected as they are certain to leave in the summer, but Arnautovic…”

Arnautovic is the most expensive of the three and thus represents the worst value for money. The other two were short-term deals, expected to depart at season's end without much fanfare. However, Arnautovic's longer contract presents a significant dilemma for Inter. Transfer market experts suggest that Arnautovic is reluctant to leave, believing his abilities are still a good fit for a club like Inter. This self-assurance only exacerbates Inter’s headache.

Inter intended to give their lesser-used substitutes a chance to shine in the match against Sassuolo. However, Arnautovic’s performance was dismal even as a substitute. His clumsy slip shortly after coming on drew gasps from the fans. In his 30 minutes on the pitch, he touched the ball just eight times, committed three basic errors, was caught offside twice, and squandered a clear scoring opportunity. His rating as the worst player on the field was well-deserved.

Despite the poor performance, Simone Inzaghi, out of politeness and a desire to maintain team morale, praised Arnautovic post-match: “Arnautovic and Sanchez have always been important. They, along with the others, are ready when needed. I don't want to give up on anyone. As we prepare for the new season, I hope everyone stays because they are all very important.” These diplomatic words, however, mask the true sentiments.

A revealing moment came when an Italian broadcaster played a trick on Inzaghi post-match, showing a replay of a previous Taremi goal and claiming it was live. Inzaghi, in a rare post-defeat smile, praised Taremi as world-class, citing his numerous goals in the Champions League, Europa League, and Asian Cup. Inzaghi stated, “We are very satisfied with our current squad, but we need to increase the number of forwards.”

From various press conferences over the months, it’s evident that Inzaghi is far from satisfied with Inter’s backup forwards this season. Reinforcing the forward line has become a necessity in his eyes. Even someone as typically restrained as Zanetti has expressed frustration, noting that last summer’s Lukaku saga disrupted Inter’s transfer plans, forcing them to sign Arnautovic. Zanetti’s subtle critique underscores the disappointment with Arnautovic’s contributions.

Given Arnautovic’s high cost and underwhelming performance, how Inter handles his departure will be a significant challenge this summer. Transfer expert Di Marzio points out that Inter, having just completed Arnautovic’s obligatory purchase in February, would face financial losses if they tried to offload him. One potential solution is to bring in a young, low-wage forward to expand the attacking options to five players.

Arnautovic began the season as the third-choice striker but has now slipped to the bottom of the pecking order. If he stays next season, will he remain in this position? Would it be better to cut their losses and move on? This has sparked considerable debate among fans.

At the start of the season, we agreed to assess the success of Arnautovic’s transfer at the end of the campaign. Now, it’s clear: Arnautovic’s transfer has not been successful and is the most disappointing of the 12 signings this season. How Inter rectifies this mistake in the summer will directly impact the team’s strength next season.

Arnautovic’s struggles this season have been emblematic of broader issues within Inter Milan’s squad management. As the club looks to reinforce its attacking options, they must also find a way to offload underperforming players like Arnautovic without incurring significant financial losses. This balancing act will be crucial as Inter aims to remain competitive both domestically and in European competitions.

In summary, Arnautovic’s tenure at Inter has not lived up to expectations, and his future at the club remains uncertain. As Inzaghi and the management team navigate these challenges, their decisions in the upcoming transfer window will be pivotal in shaping the club’s prospects for the next season.