There is a certain grim inevitability about the summer reconstruction at the San Siro. Serie A champions Inter are staring down the barrel of a signif...
There is a certain grim inevitability about the summer reconstruction at the San Siro. Serie A champions Inter are staring down the barrel of a significant squad overhaul, and the latest name to enter the notebook is Genoa's Norwegian centre half, Leo Ostigard. GoalZaza understands that the 25 year old has been identified as the primary candidate to fill the considerable boots of Stefan De Vrij, whose time at the apex of Italian football appears to be winding down.Let us be clear about what this represents. This is not a like for like swap. De Vrij, at his peak, was a cerebral reader of the game, a master of the cover tackle who depended on anticipation over raw pace. Ostigard is a different beast entirely. He is a throwback, a warrior of the old school who thrives on the physical duel. He is the kind of defender who leaves a mark on opposition forwards, who enjoys the grim work of shoving a centre forward off his stride in the penalty area. For a side that has sometimes looked too passive when the low block is breached, Ostigard offers a dose of granite.The logic is sound. Inter need to lower the age profile of their backline and inject some transitional bite. De Vrij has been a fine servant, but his legs are not what they were. Ostigard, forged in the fires of a relegation scrap and then a mid table resurrection at Genoa, has the aggressive mentality that Simone Inzaghi's defensive unit currently lacks. Can he step into a side that demands tactical flexibility and build from the back That is the question. But given the financial realities that now govern the club, this might be the most intelligent gamble they can take. A proven battler in the Italian top flight, ready to step up and claim a spot in the blue and black kit.This feels less like a glamorous signing and more like a necessary piece of business. The sort of gritty, fundamental transfer that wins you leagues in the gritty months of March and April. If Inter can secure him for a reasonable fee, they might just have found the cornerstone of a new, more rugged era at the back. The supporters will love him, provided he does not try to play too many Hollywood passes out from the back. Keep it simple, son. Win your headers. Kick the striker. That is the Ostigard way.
