When Inter announced that Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic would be joining them for the 2014-15 campaign, the way in which the club heralded the signing of a ‘world-class player’ could have been viewed as slightly tongue in cheek giving the fact that the Serbian is probably no longer part of that world-class category.
However, it was president Erick Thohir’s statement that he would become ‘an asset to the team’ and help bring through our younger players. That was arguably a greater indication of the benefit the veteran centre-back could bring for a club seemingly, like many others, on a cost-cutting exercise.
While Hugo Campagnaro and the on-loan Rolando are anything but spritely youngsters it is worth remembering that with Walter Samuel almost certainly following 33-year-old Cristian Chivu through the San Siro exit door, Vidic then instantly becomes the elder statesmen of the Nerazzurri back-line.
Barely a month after commencement of the 2014-15 season, he himself will turn 33 and honorary president Massimo Moratti rightly pointed out that he will merely become a like-for-like replacement for the Argentinean. However, Inter will hope he can manage more than the seven appearances the man who turns 36 this Sunday has this term.
With age and injuries beginning to take their toll, his ability to see through an entire season is doubtful. In the last three seasons at Old Trafford he has appeared in less than half of their league matches and that should be a concern.
That United fans see his departure as a loss of an integral piece of their defence probably highlights the lack of depth at Old Trafford, and helps preserve his ‘world-class’ status, with Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Johnny Evans struggling to live up to the standards set by Vidic and partner Rio Ferdinand.
Yet their recent comprehensive loss to arch rivals Liverpool drew attention to fears that, while still able to cope with a strong physical opponent, he can sometimes struggle to contain the more mobile agile attackers.
Therefore, with Inter aspiring to challenge at the top of Serie A in the not to distance future they will need to improve results versus direct rivals. But, while having to adapt to a three man defence for the first time the Serbian could be tested even further, particularly against modern forwards such Carlos Tevez, Alessio Cerci or Gervinho.
Regardless of condition or diminishing ability, Mazzarri’s preference for the 3-5-2 formation will be a real test if he is to find a permanent place in the Nerazzurri first-team or even succeed in Italy.
If playing it safe, he will largely occupy the central role and should be able to ease himself into Serie A life and provide the same experience, leadership and rugged approach that Samuel had during the latter stages of his career.
When flanked by either, or both, Juan Jesus or Andrea Ranocchia the invaluable wisdom he can pass on will hopefully ensure they develop into more rounded defenders themselves.
What will be a shame is if despite Thohir’s sentiments the Serbian’s arrival forces younger prospect away from the Inter first-team or the club completely, as happened recently with Luca Caldirola and Giulio Donati who fled to the Bundesliga for regular playing time.
Instead his arrival should be viewed exactly as Thohir suggested, an opportunity to bring a little added value to the current Inter side and the one they are trying to build for the future and largely ignore any of the short-term benefit he might bring.
Follow Kevin Pogorzelski on Twitter: @rabbitrabbiton
