Inter Milan: Reliving Nelson Rivas' Dramatic Nerazzurri Career

Ex-Inter Milan manager José Mourinho once joked that he could write at-length about his interaction with Mario Balotelli. With that being said, the book wouldn't be a drama, it would be a comedy.

In contrast, Nelson Rivas' career with the Nerazzurri wouldn't be a comedy. It would be a drama.

Since leaving the club, his name has been thrown in with the likes of Vratislav Gresko, Ricardo Quaresma, Mancini and Harald Nielsen as epic Internazionale flops. 

Nelson...Who?

Nelson Rivas arrived at Inter Milan under a shroud of confusion.

With utility player Cristian Chivu set to join Inter from Roma, why sign Rivas as a reserve backup defender? 

There was already Iván Córdoba, Nicolás Burdisso, Marco Materazzi and Walter Samuel vying for the two centre-back positions. 

What about the promising Marco Andreolli [1]? Signing Rivas would basically end the 21-year-old's career with the club. 

Was Rivas Inter-quality? 

He wasn't a starter for the Colombian national team, he hardly played for River Plate and he had a reputation for being el loco. 

In a 2006 Copa Libertadores game against Corinthians, he wanted opposing players to quake in the midst of his presence. At least, that is the only explanation for Rivas' despicable assault on a defenceless Nilmar. 

To make matters worse, Rivas channeled his inner Antonio Rattín by folding his arms and pouting toward referee Horacio Elizondo [2] as if to say: "Me!? What did I do?"

It wasn't out of character for Rivas. He later embraced the comparisons to Mike Tyson, who was once commonly referred to as the baddest man on the planet. 

[1] Sent to Roma in a deal to sign Chivu.

[2] Five months later, referee Elizondo correctly sent off Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in which Italy beat France on penalties. 

Concerns for Nelson Rivas' Well-Being

With Antonio Puerta passing away from a heart condition a month earlier, Inter Milan's medical department were sent into red alert after Nelson Rivas collapsed during a training session. 

At the time, Inter's doctors faced questions over their competency. It was déjà vu for Massimo Moratti all over again.

The club had gone through the same process with Kanu and Khalilou Fadiga [1], with both players' heart defects being discovered after they had signed on the dotted line.  

It wasn't the end for Rivas' health concerns because he proceeded with ligament reconstruction surgery after rupturing his knee ligaments against Bologna in October, 2008. 

A few months later, Rivas underwent arthroscopic meniscus surgery. 

[1] As a Bolton Wanderers player, Fadiga collapsed prior to a Carling Cup game against Tottenham Hotspur. Seven years later, Bolton defensive midfielder Fabrice Muamba was clinically dead for 76 minutes after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field against Spurs in an FA Cup quarterfinal.  

Nelson Rivas' Confidence Was Shot Down

When Nelson Rivas was called upon early in his Inter Milan career, he was quite decent, as was evident in a good display against Juventus. 

He started playing his worst after his body began breaking down.

His reaction time was noticeably slower, which made him flat-footed. As a result, he was regularly caught out of position. 

Rivas only became a joke when he stopped believing in himself. 

José Mourinho, who expects his players to be versatile, threw Rivas in at the deep end at full-back against Antonio Cassano. 

The Sampdoria genius utterly embarrassed Rivas. 

Speaking to Rai television, the Special One criticised the Colombian (via TheStar.com.my): "Rivas has not done well—he knows it, we know it, but on the field we are all together and take responsibility together."

A week prior to the 3-0 loss to Sampdoria, Rivas was a nervous wreck in a 0-0 draw against Manchester United.

The only reason the game stayed 0-0 was because Mourinho took the drastic step of subbing off the centre-back at halftime. 

What kind of performance was Mourinho expecting from Rivas against Sampdoria? Obviously, it wasn't going to be competent. 

It got to the point where Mourinho would rather play Esteban Cambiasso out of position at centre-back than give Rivas another chance. 

Life After Inter

Nelson Rivas was loaned out to Livorno, where he lost consciousness on the field against Palermo. 

Thankfully, it was just a knock to the head, as opposed to a heart problem. 

Sergio Floccari notably schooled Rivas with a well-taken brace when Lazio won 4-1.

He was clearly out of his depth trying to mark Samuel Eto'o when Inter Milan won 3-0.

The interesting aspect of that game was that Inter didn't impose any loan clauses forbidding Rivas to play against them. That just showed how little respect they had in his ability. 

Before his loan spell ended, his knee gave way. He was then loaned out to Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk before having his Inter contract rescinded. 

Rivas ended his European career by joining the Montreal Impact in the MLS.

Not only is he not durable but he disgraced the Montreal franchise with a thuggish headbutt to Antoine Hoppenot.

Comment below with your opinions on Rivas. 

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