Inter Tipped To Sign Lazio Forward Ahead Of Juventus As Tiago Djalo Is Likened To Fabio Cannavaro
Written By Onyeka Daniel
This season, Inter Milan and Juventus seems to be the teams in contention for the Serie A title and both teams have been rivals for many years, competing for the same trophies and of course players in the transfer market. The two teams are expected to go head to head once again for a couple of players, with Portuguese defender, Tiago Djalo the current name on board, but another player could become available.
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The Bianconeri, not too long ago, was renowned for being the best team in Europe when it came to securing high-profile free agents. The club successfully bolstered their squad by acquiring some of the world’s top players on free transfers. Notable examples in their current squad include Paul Pogba and Adrien Rabiot, who joined Juventus after running down their contracts at their previous clubs.
However, the landscape appears to have shifted, and Juventus is now facing increased competition, particularly from Inter, in securing high-profile players on free transfers, probably thanks to the presence of Beppe Marotta, who left Juve to join the Nerazzurri.
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Hence, Inter have been successful in assembling a squad with valuable players who left their previous clubs on free transfers, thanks to Marotta and Piero Ausilio. This battle could now shift to Lazio forward, Felipe Anderson, who is said to be on his way out of the club from the capital. Anderson, is in the final 6 months of his contract with Lazio, and Juventus have been trying to to secure his services.
But according to football Pundit, Massimo Bonanni, he has suggested that Anderson is more likely to move to Inter than Juventus when he leaves his current club. He said this in a recent interview when asked about the future of Anderson who has also been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
“In my opinion, Felipe Anderson goes to Inter on a free transfer. It is more likely that he goes to a coach he already knows rather than to Juventus, where there is a different environment. I would go to a coach who knows me well and knows how to exploit me. And I think he would be the second striker.” He said.
While the Nerazzurri haven’t made a move for the Brazilian yet, they could be in need of another forward in the summer with Alexis Sanchez expected to leave at the end of the season while the jury is yet to be out on Marko Arnautovic, who has been showing flashes of brilliance amid an underwhelming display.
The focus of course will be on Iranian striker, Mehdi Taremi, whose contract with Porto is also set to expire in the summer and will come as a free agent, while the two Italian giants are expected to slug it out for Djalo instead.
Meanwhile…
Former AC Milan Primavera coach Federico Giunti, has likened Djalo to the legendary Fabio Cannavaro. The Nerazzurri are working to sign the 23-year-old once his contract with Lille expires at the end of the season. However, they are facing stern competition from Juventus who are trying to hijack the operation by striking a deal with the French club in January.
According to Giunti, the young defender is worth the hype. The 52-year-old was at the helm of Milan’s U19 squad during Djalo’s brief spell at the club in 2019. The coach recalls how the Portuguese showcased his potential on Italian soil despite his tender age at the time.
“He arrived in January and I remember that he gave us a great hand. It was immediately clear that he was a player with enormous potential,” said Giunti in his interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. “He was not only technical but also gifted with great intuition and timing. He was great at covering spaces and possessed a brilliant physique. And yet, he was also agile and fast.
“Even though he was right-footed, he preferred to play on the centre-left.” The Italian tactician highlighted Djalo’s prowess in the air and his positioning as some of his best traits. “He was really good in aerial duels. He also knew how to find the right position, so he was difficult to overcome. And like a good Portuguese, he was also very good at starting the play.
“He always had the talent and made it blossom at Lille. He is a complete defender, also capable of fitting in any formation. “Perhaps he lacked some consistency at the time, but these were small defects of youth which he has certainly corrected today.” The interviewer then asked Giunti to compare Djalo to a more renowned defender, and he picked Italy legend Fabio Cannavaro.
“He has characteristics that are difficult to find. Few defenders have this mix of qualities, as he’s physically strong but also quick and technical. “He is someone who counts on his ability to anticipate the play and rarely makes mistakes. Stylistically and technically, he reminds me a lot of Cannavaro. But obviously, we are talking about very different players from a physical standpoint.” Finally, Giunti insisted that the Portuguese would be able to fit anywhere in Inzaghi’s three-man defense.
“I think he would be a great fit at Inter. In fact, he would do well at any top club. “In the current Inter side, he could easily play either on the right or on the left of the three-man backline. But I’m sure he wouldn’t look out of sorts even in the center where Acerbi and De Vrij usually play.
“However, he has to be aware that Bastoni and Pavard are undisputed starters and he would be the first backup. But Tiago would be a top-level substitute. He is strong and can play anywhere. “I wish him all the best and hope he gets back to the pitch soon because he had to deal with a bad injury. “I followed him closely before he got hurt and I saw how he improved. So I hope he returns stronger than ever.” He concluded.
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