After seeing midfielders Wesley Sneijder and Philippe Coutinho leave during the January transfer window, Nerazzurri were starting to get worried that nobody would be coming in to replace them
But on transfer deadline day, Inter splashed the Sneijder and Coutinho by signing midfielders Zdravko Kuzmanovic, Ezequiel Schelotto and Mateo Kovacic.
Kuzmanovic scored 17 goals in 96 Bundesliga appearances before leaving Stuttgart for Italy today, while Schelotto and Kovacic arrive from Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb respectively.
Kuzmanovic Inter’s official website:
“I’m delighted to have joined a great club like Inter, (I’m also delighted) the deal went through and that I’m back in Italy. I still speak a bit of Italian because I learnt it in Florence. I really can’t wait to get out on the pitch with my new teammates.”
“I trained with them for the first time this morning and I obviously need to get to know them better as players, but I’m very happy,” Kuzmanovic added.
Inter are hoping that Schelotto, 23, and Croatian playmaker Kovacic, 18, can provide the class and creativity that Sneijder has so ably provided in the past.
“I want to say goodbye to Atalanta, the team, the fans, the coach, everyone who always believed in me,” Schelotto said. “But I’m glad I’ve joined Inter, the biggest club in the world. I hope to be able to give my very best for this team. I’m thrilled to be here and I’ve been welcomed with open arms.”
Croatian playmaker Kovacic, who has drawn comparisons to Luka Modric, said:
“When I was still a boy, Inter were winning lots of trophies. They’re one of the biggest clubs in Europe and Italy. I’m happy I’ve joined a team like this and I hope to stay here for a long time.”
Kovacic is one for the future while Kuzmanovic and Schelotto should have immediate impact on an Inter side that still has dreams of catching Serie A leaders Juventus.
