It’s becoming increasingly apparent that signing Christian Eriksen from Tottenham Hotspur wasn’t the desire of Antonio Conte during the last winter transfer window.
Inter Milan made a huge event out of the transfer and the perceived blow to Spurs, unveiling the Denmark international at Teatro alla Scala, and the Italian media showed similar excitement. There were claims of beating some of Europe’s biggest clubs to the player’s signature, although that always felt like something of a stretch.
During Eriksen’s final months at Tottenham he wasn’t in his best form, and whilst some put that down to issues with Jose Mourinho and the contract situation, perhaps the reality was different.
Italian journalist Sandro Piccinini has told FCInterNews Eriksen was valued at €70-80m when they signed him from Tottenham for €27m, so Inter believed they’d be able to make a big profit on the player.
However, two things have damaged those plans. Firstly, the Covid-19 pandemic has rocked finances around world football, and secondly, Eriksen’s misery on the pitch, or on the bench, for Inter has seen his value decrease.
Piccinini believes Conte needs to protect the value of ‘the company’s assets’, presumably by playing Eriksen, and he still thinks ‘the capital gain will arrive anyway’ in an upcoming transfer window.
Whether that’s true remains to be seen.
Having paid Tottenham €27m, getting more for a player who turns 29-years-of-age in February, and who is in poor form and on high wages, Inter’s confidence regarding a profit may be misplaced.
