Inter Milan announces preseason camp squad

The new season is inching ever closer as Inter Milan announced its preseason training squad on Monday.

Training began at the Suning Training Center Monday and will run through July 22.

Not a ton of surprises on the squad, although there are a few.

Courtesy of Inter.it

In goal, the Nerazzurri will have stalwart Samir Handanovic and backups Tommaso Berni and Daniele Padelli. Added to the goalkeeping roster is Inter Primavera startlet Vladan Dekic.

Dekic played in 20 matches for the Primavera last season, conceding 20 goals. His addition to the roster is more likely a way to gain some experience and not one to challenge for a role with the starting team.

Inter Milan’s big ones on defense — Kwadwo Asamoah, Stefan De Virj, Danilo D’Ambrosio and Milan Skriniar — are expected to be in camp, but Luciano Spalletti has added Andrea Ranocchia and Dalbert — players from last year — along with Primavera players Ryan Nolan and Gabriele Zappa.

Zappa has been with the Inter youth program since 2017 and, last year, he played in 48 matches for the Under-17s. In that span, he scored three goals and had three assists. He helped lead Inter U19s to the Viareggio Cup and the U17s to the quarterfinals of the Campionato.

Nolan, who hails from Ireland, played just one match last season in the Viareggio Cup. Like Dekic, Nolan and Zappa being added to the preseason roster is more of a test than a competition.

In the midfield, Inter will have new signee Radja Nainggolan as well as Borja Valero and Roberto Gagliardini. Spalletti added youth product Xian Emmers and Maj Roric to the preseason roster.

The Slovenian-born Roric played a majority of last season with Inter’s U17 squad, scoring a goal in league play. Emmers, who hails from Switzerland, had 12 goals in 74 appearances last season in the Inter youth program — split between the U17s and U19s.

Matias Vecino was left off the training roster as the Uruguay national team was just eliminated from the 2018 World Cup. Marcelo Brozovic was also left off as Croatia remains in the tournament in the semifinals.

Up front, the Nerazzurri will have Antonio Candreva, Eder, Yann Karamoh, Mauro Icardi, Lautaro Martinez and new signee Matteo Politano. Spalletti added Primavera player Facundo Colidio to the preseason roster.

Last season, Colidio — who was born in Argentina — played in 32 matches, scoring nine goals across all competitions.

Inter Milan will open its preseason match schedule at Lugano on July 14 when they will play at the Cornaredo Stadium. Reports suggest the Nerazzurri will take part in a friendly against Sheffield United on July 24 in England.

They will follow that with the opening of the International Champions Cup against Chelsea on July 28 at the Allianz Riviera in Nizza followed by Olimpique Lyon on Aug. 4 at the Via Del Mare in Lecce. The Cup competition will close out for Inter against Atletico Madrid Aug. 11 at the Wanda Metropolitano.

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