Inter Milan had previously achieved six consecutive victories against AC Milan, becoming their nemesis. However, in the two encounters this season, Inter Milan suffered defeats. Under the guidance of coach Fonseca, Milan managed to secure a dramatic victory over Inter. Meanwhile, under the leadership of Conceicao, Milan staged a remarkable comeback from a two-goal deficit, resulting in Inter's loss in the Italian Super Cup final. Following this setback, Inter Milan is in need of adjustments in both mentality and squad composition.
On January 8th, renowned Italian journalist Di Marzio reported that Inter Milan has set a price tag on midfielder Francesco Acerbi, with the club hoping to receive a transfer fee of 45 million euros for him. Acerbi himself is keen on joining his former team, AS Roma. After Inter's failure to win the Italian Super Cup, Inter's correspondent Pasquale Guaro revealed that the relationship between head coach Simone Inzaghi and Acerbi has reached its lowest point, with Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma being potential destinations for the player.
It is evident that Acerbi does not have consistent playing time at Inter, serving as a regular substitute. The club does not fully recognize his performance; otherwise, he would have been given a starting position. This season, Acerbi has made 22 appearances for Inter, starting in 8 matches, scoring 3 goals and providing 1 assist. Last season, he played in 42 games, starting in 11, with a record of 8 goals and 5 assists.
Acerbi, a member of the Italian national team at just 25 years old, feels unappreciated at Inter. Despite this, his overall performance at Inter has been average. As a midfielder, he occasionally contributes by making forward runs and scoring goals, but his organizational and defensive abilities are not particularly impressive. In the match against Milan, Acerbi came on as a substitute in the 84th minute and missed a chance created by Lautaro, failing to score the third goal for Inter. During Milan's decisive goal, his defense was also somewhat lax, earning him a match rating of 6.0, the lowest among all players.
Cassano sharply commented on Acerbi's situation at Inter, stating, "If I were Acerbi, I would go to Rome. He must leave Inter because there are some players who simply do not catch Inzaghi's eye. Klaassen, who had few opportunities at Inter, is now the second top scorer at Ajax."
In summary, Acerbi's lack of a starting role at Inter is unacceptable to him, and the club is also disappointed with his performance. Considering the significant investment Inter made to sign the player, including a transfer fee of 31.4 million euros and previous rental fees, it seems that both Inter and Acerbi are no longer a good fit for each other.