[FM13] Giuseppe Bergomi - The King of Calcio

Inter Announces New Signings

Already full of momentum due to an undefeated first half of the season and Bergomi's decision to stay, Inter Milan have now been furthered buoyed now by the official completion of 3 new signings. The first and only immediate transfer is the €12,250,000 signing of Chelsea winger Xherdan Shaqiri. The Nerazzurri have also announced that Malaga superstar Isco and Galatasaray keeper Fernando Muslera will be joining the club next season upon the expiration of their contracts on Bosman free transfers. This article will take an in-depth look at each signing and what they can bring to the Giuseppe Meazza.

Xherdan Shaqiri

Fee: €12,250,000
Age: 24
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In the summer of 2012 this promising Swiss winger made an €11,750,000 move to Bavarian giants Bayern Munich, expected to become a world beating superstar. It hasn't quite turned out that way so far. Shaqiri made a mere 25 Bundesliga appearances in his 2 seasons in Germany, 19 of those from the bench, and found the net only 5 times. He decided to move in pursuit of first team football and Chelsea pounced at the opportunity in 2014, snapping up the talented attacker for €13,500,000.

Once again, however, Shaqiri was frozen out and made a pitiful 7 Premier League appearances in his one and a half year stay, none in this season, and scored a mere 1 goal. Spalletti refused to sell, but once he left for United, new Chelsea boss Didier Deschamps had no problem putting Shaqiri up for sale, and he was quickly snapped up by Inter. The three time Italian champions have paid €10,250,000 up front with an added €2,000,000 in performance related bonuses.

Despite not enjoying the most successful last three and a half seasons, nobody can doubt the Swiss international's ability, as his 46 caps prove. Known for his quickness, touch, and dribbling flair, Shaqiri will add width to a side sorely in need of it. Due to the drop in form of Lorenzo Insigne, Coutinho's ineffectiveness on the wing, Boudebouz's falling out, and Sterling's youth, Shaqiri will prove able cover as well as an excellent starter for Giuseppe Bergomi's men.

Isco

Fee: Free
Age: 23
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Isco came up through Valencia's youth system in Spain and showed much promise there, breaking into the first team setup in the 2010-2011 season. Impressed by his youth and ability, Malaga took the exciting attacking midfielder off of Valencia's hands with €6,000,000. He was an instant hit and a real crowd favorite, but in the 2012-2013 season even Isco's top performances couldn't save Malaga from an embarrassing relegation to the second tier. Isco went on to hand in a transfer request and was available for the next two and a half years at €20,000,000, his release clause, but nobody bought him, and Isco has endured in Liga Adelante instead.

The Spaniard's contract, however, runs out this coming summer, and top clubs have expressed interest in bringing the talented central midfielder in for no fee. Milanese rivals Internazionale and AC Milan lead the pack for his signature, but in the end Isco chose to sign a pre-contract agreement with the Nerazzurri. In his time with Malaga Isco made 115 league appearances and became a cult hero despite his transfer requests.

It seems as though this signing may be surplus to requirements for Giuseppe Bergomi's side. Inter are stuffed with central midfielders; Yann M'Vila, Esteban Cambiasso, Lorenzo Crisetig, Moussa Sissoko, Andrea Poli, Andrea Romano, Maxime Gautier, Adam Maher, and Philippe Coutinho are all already on the books. Isco, however, brings the club a passing ability superior even to Poli's. When it comes to technical abilities on the ball and vision on the field, Isco surpasses the majority of Inter's men and he can provide a big boost for Inter's title credentials.

Fernando Muslera

Fee: Free
Age: 29
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For some time, it was believed that Inter were pursuing Chelsea's second string goalkeeper Petr Cech in an attempt to lure him to the Giuseppe Meazza at the end of his contract to back up Marc-Andre ter Stegen. However, Bergomi decided to end this pursuit due to Cech's massive wage demands, and instead turned his attention to Galatasaray man Fernando Muslera.

The Uruguayan who came up through the Montevideo Wanderers' youth system had spent the last four and a half seasons at Galatasaray, impressing heavily for the Turkish giants, but had failed to renew his contract, allowing Inter to hold talks with him. Muslera spent 4 seasons at Lazio before his move to Turkey and thus he is very familiar with Serie A football, making him a perfect fit at Inter.

Muslera is known for his ability to rush out and make incredible reflex saves and will certainly provide very solid backup and even excellent competition for the starting role for ter Stegen. The last time Bergomi tried to keep two top goalkeepers happy in Samir Handanovic and David Ospina, one of them handed in a transfer request, so it will be interesting to see how Muslera deals with most likely being the second choice man between the sticks. Considering he arrived for free, however, any sale money is profit for Inter, and this signing can only be a good thing for the Nerazzurri.

Overview

So, who's your favorite Inter signing thus far? Do you think they'll have a major effect on Inter's football and title credentials? Leave your comments below! Also, check out Inter Milan's official online store to buy the all new Xherdan Shaqiri number 15 kit! Isco and Muslera kits will be available for purchase next season when they arrive. Forza Inter!

Two Players Leave Inter on Loan

Inter Milan manager Giuseppe Bergomi has announced that 2 first team players have left the Giusepe Meazza on loan in search of first team football and perhaps to secure a future move away from the Nerazzurri on a permanent deal. These deals are Joel Obi departing to Siena and Ryad Boudebouz to Aston Villa.

The first player to depart is Nigeria man Joel Obi. The central midfielder scored a mere 1 goal in 72 Serie A appearances for Inter and was deemed surplus to requirements at the beginning of last season. Obi spent the entirety of last season on loan at Pescara, who paid €850,000 for his services, but suffered a series of serious injuries that allowed him to make a mere 12 Serie A appearances. Pescara chose not to use their option to purchase Obi permanently and he returned to Inter but has failed to make a single first team appearance thus far. He has now been loaned to Siena for €350,000 in hopes of reviving his career at Inter or at least securing a move to another team.



The second man leaving the Giuseppe Meazza is winger Ryad Boudebouz. The tricky Algerian signed for Inter on a free transfer from FC Sochaux-Montbe after a top season in Ligue 1 in which he scored 5 goals and assisted 12 others in 22 appearances. He failed to impress the boss Giuseppe Bergomi, however, and made only 8 appearances in all competitions, 6 of those from the bench. Boudebouz has thus been allowed to leave to Barclays Premier League side Aston Villa. It is believed that Villa have a €5,000,000 option to purchase him at the end of his loan deal if Boudebouz duly impresses.