Frustrated Inter Face Difficult Summer

Twelve months ago, Inter embarked on a managerial search, however, it was one done in the glow of European triumph, one conducted with a horde of trophies safely stored away back home. Now, more than a year on from their Champions League triumph in Madrid, Inter and Moratti are at it again, searching for an adequate replacement for the irreplaceable; the Special One.

With manager Leonardo set to take on a front office role at French club Paris St. Germain, Inter's search, while only a week or so old, has already met with disappointment and rejection. Former Chile manager Marcelo Bielsa, known for his expansive style of play, was the first to snub Moratti and co., before Porto hotshot Villas-Boas elected to join Chelsea ahead of the Nerazzuri. While moves for Laurent Blanc and Fabio Capello were played down, a much more serious venture was also ended, as Sinisa Mihajlovic added his name to the growing list of managers to have turned their noses up at Moratti and Inter Milan.

For a club of Inter's size, this consistent rejection is as bemusing as it is frustrating. While you can be sure that their are a whole host of managers willing to take on the role, the ones that Inter have in mind haven't shown the remotest interest, whether it be because of Moratti's nasty habit of interfering in coaching affairs, or the consistently pressured state of a hot seat at any of Italy's major clubs.

While at the moment the coaching situation is the number one concern for the blue and black side of the San Siro, frustration must also exist in the club's failure to make any ground in this year's transfer market. Alexis Sanchez, a confirmed target of Inter's, seems to have chosen Barcelona ahead of all his Italian suitors, while players already at Inter have been heavily linked with moves elsewhere. Samuel Eto'o has stated his desire to finish his career with a Premier League swansong, while Wesley Sneijder is the subject of interest from Manchester United and Manchester City.

In between secret meetings with every manager under the sun, Moratti has done his best to quash all the rumors of departing players, but has met with little success; both Eto'o and Sneijder have been just has heavily linked away this week as they were the last.

If Inter don't sort out their future soon, then dire premonitions will soon begin to circulate; with Italy limited to only three Champions League spots next season, there is no room for error amongst Serie A's top sides. Already, Milan have started to build towards next season, bringing in Mexes, Taiwo and a couple young Italian strikers, while Juventus have also been very active in the transfer market. In Naples, the Azzuri look set to retain the services of their "big three" attackers, so competition is sure to be stiff next season; and I haven't even mentioned the rejuvenated AS Roma yet!

So the longer Inter toil away in that managerial hunt, the more fans of the Coppa Italia winners will begin to look over their shoulders. There are more than a few teams creeping up, determined to throw a spanner in Inter's works, and mix it up with the established elite in Italy.

If you were Moratti, who would you bring in as Inter coach?

This aricle was also published by The Chairman on Footy Utopia.