Is Santon the new Javier Zanetti?
After winning the scudetto with Inter under-17 last season, Santon was called up by Mourinho to train with the first squad for the first time at the end of July.
Six months later Mourinho rewarded the talented youngster with a starting role in Coppa Italia quarter-final against Roma. Inter won the game with 2-1 and since then Santon started all Inter games in the detriment of Maxwell.
Santon used to play as an attacking midfielder but later was used as a full-back by Inter Primavera coach. The youngster received only words of praise from his coach, Jose Mourinho, and his team-mates.
Javier Zanetti thinks he has a great future ahead: “He just needs to keep down this road, he has undisputed qualities which he also displays in training. He is also good at listening to our advices and I wish him all the best for a great career. He has what it takes to become an amazing footballer.”
If he continues to develop like this and Mourinho use him regularly Santon has the potential to be better that Zanetti. Considering his tactical versatility Santon can play on several positions , where the coach needs him at the time.
His physically and attacking qualities are also a plus. All this could make him the best full-back in the near future.
The youngster has also a great personality which is very appreciated by Mourinho but not only.
Santon continues to win admiration and could play his first senior derby next week when Inter will face Milan. If Mourinho will use him and he will have again a apreciated evolution then it will be very hard for Maxwell to regain his place.
Should Mourinho start with Balotelli at Lecce?
Mario Balotelli has been called up by Mourinho for this week game against Lecce after some weeks of absence. Balotelli was left out of the squad in the last six matches by Mourinho after he refused to play against Catania.
Since then Mourinho has not called him anymore and it looked like the transfer window will mean the departure of the Italian under-21 international from San Siro.
But after what he said at the pre-match conference we might think that the Portuguese technician has forget Balotelli.
Balotelli could take advantage on Cruz and Adriano missing trough injury and suspension and figure into the starting line-up.
Inter crosses a bad time, considering their past results, and a good performance from Balotelli against Lecce is expected.
Last game against Lecce at San Siro, Inter won the game after a late goal scored by Cruz.
Balotelli is a player with huge potential but his behavior is sometimes unacceptable. Mourinho said once that if he would train at 50% of his capability then he could become the best player in the world. His set-pieces are deadly and his control skills are fantastic somehow similar to Ibrahimovic.
Also Ibrahimovic advised balotelli to train harder and to listen to the coach because he is young and he still has a lot to learn.
Inter not giving up on Drogba
The transfer window is closed but the speculations regarding the possible destination of some players still continue.
drogba
Drogba was one of the most hunted players before he got injured last summer. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter and Milan were all after him.
Inter were almost inactive on the transfer market this winter and everybody expect Mourinho to act in the summer. The Special One has never hidden his admiration and desire to bring Drogba to San Siro.
Inter are on top of Serie A, still in Champions League and Coppa Italia but the poor performances from last matches have made Mourinho angry.
Mourinho failed to find the ideal partner for Ibrahimovic into the Nerazzurri’s attack because of the inconstant evolutions of Adriano, Cruz or Balotelli. This could force Mourinho to start the negotiations with Chelsea.
On the other side Drogba is having a disappointing season managing to score only three goals from 20 appearances. The 30-year-old Ivorian international has fallen out with Scolari, who prefers Anelka up front.
By coming to Inter, Drogba is trying to regain to the form he played under Mourinho, the man who brought him at Chelsea.
Drogba has lost also Abramovic support after he declared that he wants a new challenge last summer.
Inter would agree an exchange Drogba Quaresma, considering that the Portuguese has already joined Chelsea on loan.
Chelsea loaned Quaresma
Chelsea have loaned Quaresma until the end of the season with the option to make the move permanent.
quaresma
The former Porto and Barcelona player was signed last summer by Inter but failed to impress Jose Mourinho. Regarded by many as good as Ronaldo, Quaresma failed to adapt to Italian football and at the end of 2008 he was awarded with the status of the weakest player in Serie A “the Golden Bin”.
Probably the Portuguese winger will have better performances at Chelsea where he will rejoin his former Portugal coach with which he had some notable performances.
It seems that the financial crisis is felt also at Chelsea. Chelsea and Roman Abramovic delighted the fans with big name signings like Drogba, Essien, Ballack in the last couple of seasons but now after failing to sign Robinho all they can do is to hope that Quaresma will shine at Stamford Bridge.
Quaresma could take advantage of the poor form showed by Malouda this season. The only concern for him could be the fans patience who started to worry regarding this season title chances.
Inter missed chance to increase the lead over Juventus
Inter had the opportunity to increase the lead to nine points over Juventus after their surprisingly defeat at home 2-3 to Cagliari one day before. Without suspended Adriano, the defending champions have not manage to past Torino on San Siro and finished 1-1.
The first half was boring, without important chances to score for both teams. Mourinho tried to strengthen the attack trowing Quaresma to replace Maxwell but the move proved to be uninspired. Quaresma was one again the weakest player on the pitch and this awfully performance could force him leave Inter quicker than it was expected.
Torino took the lead just two minutes into the second half after Rolando Bianchi header. Inter leveled the score in the 58 minute when Burdisso headed past Sereni after a corner kick. Inter tried to take the three points and risked being exposed at the back but the second goal did not come.
It was probably one of the best games and a night to remember for Sereni the Torino’s goalkeeper who was saved by the bar at two occasions.
The game could also end with the visitors victory if they would have been more inspired on the counter-attack.
Milan moved to second place after 3-0 victory with Lazio while Roma draw 2-2 with Reginna.
Inter must improve their game untill the difficult tests with Milan and Manchester United and the next match at Lecce could be the best opportunity for it and for the boosting the players morale.
Catania 0-2 Inter video
Who should leave and who should Mourinho bring at Inter?
Few rounds ago Inter were seven points ahead Juventus and looked like they will remain comfortable.
jose mourinho
The last three Serie A matches were awful for Mourinho & co. Inter managed to collect only 4 points after the lucky victory 2-1 at Siena, 1-1 draw with Cagliari and then the painfully defeat 3-1 at Atalanta. After this defeat, the second of the season, Mourinho and Moratti had their first conflict.
The Portuguese coach has lost his temper and criticized his players. Mourinho also made a list with the players that he doesn’t need anymore. Materazzi, Dacourt, Crespo and Burdisso are all set to leave but the list could be bigger.
Inter has one of the biggest squad in Europe and Mourinho want to reduce it for a better management. In principle Moratti agrees with the idea and now all they have to do is to find possible destinations for the unwanted players. Also Mancini, Quaresma and Vieira could be on the move considering the little time they played in this season. The first two could not adapt yet and Vieira was most of the time injured, but all three have offers and they could be aloud to leave.
Moratti repeated few times that there will be no transfer this winter but if all this players will leave probably there will be one or two that will come. There are also offers for Balotelli and Adriano but is unlikely that they will be aloud to leave untill summer.
Aguero, Ze Maria, Arshavin, Tevez, Ronaldo are only few targets for Mourinho but probably none of them will be solved in this transfer period.
The departure of the players could also have some negative aspects considering the numbers of injuries in the last time and that the numerous squad was one of the advantages that brought the latest successes for Inter.
San Siro Stadium
San Siro Stadium, also known as Giuseppe Meazza after former Inter and Italy legend, was build in 1925.
stadio san siro giuseppe meazza
The construction of the stadium lasted about a year and was inaugurated with a local derby won by Inter 6-3 against Milan. San Siro was designed by Ulisse Stacchini, based on an Anglo-Saxon model. There were around 120 construction workers and the whole operation cost was around five million Italian Lire.
At the beginning the stadium was owned by AC Milan, with president Piero Pirelli the main investor. Later in 1935 it was sold to local government. Since then the stadium hosts the home games for both Inter and Milan. Until now San Siro suffered few modifications, the most notable in 1939 and 1989 just before the 1990 World Cup that took place in Italy.
The stadium is situated in the San Siro district, in the west part of Milan, about 5-6 km from city center. The capacity of this “Temple of football” is 80065 fully covered, divided into four colored zones: red, blue, green and orange.
San Siro is one of the most modern stadiums in the world and one of the tourist sights in Milan. Guided tours are taking place every day, except Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00. The San Siro Museum, which is situated inside the stadium, contains the history of both clubs and also collections of trophies and jerseys.