After appointing Luciano Spalletti last summer, most observers expected to see Inter become much more cavalier, the coach having a long-standing reputation as a leader of expansive, attacking teams. Indeed in the previous campaign, his AS Roma side had scored 90 Serie A goals and boasted Italy’s leading scorer in Edin Dzeko, with Mohamed Salah also enjoying a stellar campaign on the right flank.
However, if Inter striker Mauro Icardi expected to benefit from a vast increase in scoring chances, he would quickly realise that Spalletti’s approach in 2017/18 was to be very different. The Nerazzurri often used a 4-2-3-1 framework, but the dapper Tuscan placed a heavy focus on defensive solidity, his two midfielders and the full-backs rarely venturing too far forward.
It was a dramatic shift, and while Icardi would still clinch the Capocannoniere crown with 29 goals, Inter’s ability to clinch a Champions League berth lent most heavily on a defence which conceded just 30 times in 38 matches. Grinding out results had never been Spalletti’s forte, but his Inter repeatedly did just that, earning 0-0 draws at Napoli’s Stadio San Paolo and Juventus Stadium.
Yet while the coach and his pragmatic approach deserve immense credit, none of that would’ve been possible without the presence of Milan Skriniar. The 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) central defender had spent the previous year and a half with Sampdoria, and while he looked solid enough for the Genoa-based outfit, few expected him to become an instant hit in Milan.
“It's amazing to think that in 18 months I've gone from the Slovakian league to playing for a club like Inter," Skriniar told journalists at his official press unveiling last July. “I spoke to the coach on the phone a week ago and he said he was happy to be able to work with me. Now we'll get the chance to know each other better. I don't know if I'll be a regular starter, that's up to him to decide. I have to work hard to improve as a player and then we'll see how it goes.”
Spalletti clearly saw enough in pre-season to hand his newest signing that starting berth immediately, and Skriniar would reward him with some incredible performances. His debut against Fiorentina saw him record one tackle, one interception and a game-high 10 clearances as the Nerazzurri registered an emphatic 3-0 triumph on the opening day of the season. From the outset, it was clear he possessed the intelligence, tactical flexibility and awareness needed to thrive in Serie A, while also looking instantly comfortable with the increased pressure that comes with playing for a high-profile club like Inter.
Skriniar carried that same impressive form into almost every match, with WhoScored.com showing that he averaged 2.9 tackles, one interception and 4.5 clearances per 90 minutes while featuring in all 38 league games. His passing was unspectacular but effective, connecting with 91.2% of his 62 attempts per game, while keeping his play as simple as possible and looking for the nearest available team-mate.
He weighed in with four goals as Inter took advantage of his height and aerial ability at set pieces, but he was first and foremost concerned with preventing the opposition from scoring. Strong, imposing and diligent, few attacking players got the better of Skriniar, leading some of Europe’s biggest clubs looking on in admiration of his talent.
Yet he rebuffed every rumour, seemingly unwilling to contemplate a future away from San Siro. "I am not interested in Barcelona," he told Mediaset Premium when asked about the rumours linking him with a move to Camp Nou back in January. "I play for Inter, and my objective is to play for Inter. I want to get them to win.” Talk of interest from Manchester City, Real Madrid and Manchester United were given similarly short shrift from the player, while his agent Karol Csontó told Slovakian newspaper Sport “that one of those clubs made a bid of €60-65 million.”
With the season now over, Skriniar has remained steadfast in his belief that he is in the right place. “I am happy in Milan with Inter, nothing else matters,” the 23-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I don’t know what’s going on in the market and I won’t talk about it either. I don’t know whether Barcelona or other clubs want me. I am serious, none of it interests me. I only have Inter on my mind.”
It is notable that in the same interview he cited the fact one of his compatriots has become a beloved figure in Italy and suggested he might do the same. “I see my friend Marek Hamsik has become an icon at Napoli,” he continued. “Why can’t the same thing happen for me at Inter?”
In powering them into the top four, Milan Skriniar has already helped bring Champions League football back to Inter, and fans of the Nerazzurri would enjoy nothing more than seeing him join the pantheon of foreign legends to wear their famous colours.
