Inter Milan: Does Wesley Sneijder Have a Future with the Nerazzurri?
Inter Milan 28-year-old Dutch internationalย Wesley Sneijder's future with theย Nerazzurri is up in the air.ย
Last month, Inter managerย Andrea Stramaccioni dismissedย rumours that he had fallen out withย Sneijder (via forzaitalianfootball.com):
"There is no misunderstanding with Sneijder. I get angry when people discuss this because he just could not play. At the moment we are figuring out his place in the side because he is a particular kind of player, his location is behind the strikers but he can play further into the midfield.
"
This article willย addressย the state ofย Sneijder's contributions to Inter and whether or not he has a future with the Italian club.ย
Wesley Sneijder's Refusal to Track Back
1 of 3Andrea Stramaccioni expects every outfielder to press and tackle. Thisย blue collar approach to playing the game is the reason why Inter Milan leadย Serie A with 27.5 tackles per game.
There's certainly a bit ofย Josรฉ Mourinho inย Stramaccioni, who led a mediocre Inter youth side to triumph during theย NextGen Series on the back of dogged defending.ย
Speaking of the Special One,ย just imagine the awkwardย momentย whenย he toldย Samuel Eto'o to play as an auxiliary defender.
Here's theย Cameroonian forward in his own words (via ESPN FC): "I'm happy to win as a striker after winning as a defender last season."
Goran Pandev and Diego Milito also fell in line with the need to win back the ball.ย
The one player under Mourinho's treble winning Inter sideย that wasn't burdened with defensive duties was Wesley Sneijder.ย
Stramaccioni has oneย straggler in his starting XI and that's Antonio Cassanoโbut likeย Sneijder forย Mourinho,ย Cassano hasย been productive with five goals and three assists in league play.ย
When Inter endedย Juventus' 49 game unbeaten run inย Serie A,ย Stramaccioni made one notable tactical adjustment.ย
From a 3-4-3, which was quite an ambitious formation to play against Juve, he subbed offย Cassano forย Fredy Guarรญn, to play as the "1" in a 3-4-1-2.ย
Nope, not as a prototypical No. 10, but in theย Kevin-Prince Boateng mould of an athletic footballer with an eye for goal, who also works hard without the ball.ย
Whoย pick-pocketedย Andrea Pirlo, accelerated deep into the heart of Juve's defence, unleashed a shot which forced Gianluigi Buffon to palm the ball straight intoย Diego Milito's path for Inter's vital second goal?
Guarรญn.ย
Wouldย Sneijder have outhustledย Pirlo? No.ย
The writing is on the wall forย Sneijder becauseย Stramaccioni doesn't need the Dutchman.ย
Wesley Sneijder's Influence—or Lack Thereof
2 of 3Andrea Stramaccioni's Inter Milan have won eight straight games withoutย Wesley Sneijder.ย
His absence hasn't caused Inter to cave in like when Josรฉ Mourinho answeredย Florentino Pรฉrez's call in Madrid.ย
In fact, the Nerazzurri areย better without Sneijder.
Two notable victories in theย Derby della Madonnina and Derby d'Italia backup that notion.ย
It Only Makes Sense to Let Wesley Sneijder Go
3 of 3According to La Gazzetta dello Sportย (viaย Football Italia)ย Wesleyย Sneijder earnsย โฌ6 million a year.
What was the main rationale in Inter Milan saying arrivederciย toย Lรบcio, Diego Forlรกn, Maicon and Jรบlio Cรฉsar? They wereย nameableย overpaid aging stars living off past gloryโSneijder falls into thatย category.ย
The Dutchman hasย yet to play 30ย Serie A games in one season because he's injury-prone.
Inter have won eight straight games without him.ย
Ifย Andrea Stramaccioni persists with aย tridente,ย Sneijder is theย square peg in the formation.ย
It only makes sense for Inter to letย Sneijder go.ย
Comment below with your thoughts.ย
Follow @allanjiangLIVE
Connect withย +allanjiang






.jpg)





.jpg)
