The Nerazzuri scrambled for defensive reinforcements on transfer deadline day, but in the end had to settle for repatriating the Italian fullback
There certainly was a time when Davide Santon was one of Serie A’s hottest young prospect, and highly rated by peers and coaches alike. None rated him more than his very own coach, whose praise could not have turned out to be any more wrong.
“Davide Santon is a phenomenon,” Inter coach Jose Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia ahead of his side’s visit to the Stadio Olimpico to face Roma on March 1 2009 in Serie A.
“I think that he can become the new Paolo Maldini, Javier Zanetti or Giacinto Facchetti for Inter over the next 10 to 15 years.”
Santon had made his debut just after his 18th birthday against the Giallorossi in a Coppa Italia quarter-final win on January 21, after injuries to Cristian Chivu and Maxwell.
Mourinho opted for the unheralded talent, who had been on the Inter radar since the age of 10 when he was spotted playing for Atletico Delta at a trial organised by Emilia-Romagna minnows Ravenna, and the fullback would repay the faith shown in him by the Portuguese tactician.
Four days later, he made his Serie A debut in a 1–0 victory against Sampdoria and also made his European debut soon after starring up against Cristiano Ronaldo in a goalless first leg of a UEFA Champions Round of 16 clash against Manchester United.
The newspapers and supporters lauded Santon during the remainder of the 2008-09 season as Inter would win the Scudetto; but his career would eventually be hampered by serious knee injuries.
After being loaned out to Cesena on the final day of the winter transfer window in 2011, as part of the deal that saw Yuto Nagatomo join Inter, Santon was sold to Newcastle United later that summer.
Former president Massimo Moratti and many Interisti have increasingly come to express regret at selling homegrown academy graduates, but Santon is one that has now returned to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and will hope to recapture his early promise.
After arriving on loan with an option to buy for €3.8 million, which will become mandatory if he makes 10 competitive appearances, Santon could make his second Inter debut in the Coppa Italia quarter-final as the Nerazzurri travel to face Napoli on Wednesday.
However, the switch to a side that has slipped to 13th in Serie A after losing their last two games to Torino and Sassuolo seemed to leave Santon with mixed feelings.
“Life is strange,” the 24-year-old said before passing a medical. “I would never have imagined to come back.”
The fullback would later reaffirm his commitment to Inter, after his partner claimed on social media that Newcastle were forcing him to make the move, although there are concerns over whether his arrival is enough to improve a defence that has conceded 29 goals in Serie A so far.
Tuesday’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport rated Inter’s winter transfer window as a “six plus,” with the positives being the enthusiasm created by the return of Roberto Mancini and investment in young talents Xherdan Shaqiri and Marcelo Brozovic.
However the Italian daily also pointed out that Inter finished the market with glaring problems they had failed to address.
Omitting the ongoing dispute with forward Pablo Osvaldo, Inter first failed to reinforce in midfield with reported targets Lassana Diarra and Cristian Ledesma both missing out on last-minute moves.
But the biggest concern was the breakdown in negotiations with a number of defensive targets including Yohan Benalouane, Domagoj Vida, Rolando, Rhodolfo and Anderson Martins in the closing days and hours of the transfer window.
Inter did secure another young prospect in Italo of Vasco da Gama, but with Mancini admitting his side are “fragile,” in his post-match comments at the Mapei Stadium, the 50-year-old tactician may have hoped for more than the return of Santon on deadline day.
