Will Wesley Sneijder’s likely transfer to Manchester United spell trouble for Inter Milan?

By Dylan Jenear on 14/07/2011 21:07

Following a prolonged spell of Serie A supremacy, Inter Milan were dislodged as the Scudetto’s No 1 side by city rivals AC last season, and the Beneamata’s prospects of wresting back the title from their San Siro co-habitants could take a big blow if, as seems likely, their playmaker-in-chief Wesley Sneijder completes a £35.2million move to Premier League champions Manchester United.

All in all, the 2010/11 campaign was a disappointing one for the Nerazzurri. The shambolic start to the season was forgotten once Leonardo took hold of the reigns, but the Brazilian quit the club after just six months, and the Italian title and Champions League winners of 2009/10 will start the new season with a new manager at the helm, Gian Piero Gasperini.

Inter are currently a best-priced 2.50 to regain the Serie A title in 2011/12, with the AC Milan around the 2.30 to mark to retain their crown. However, if Dutchman Sneijder does depart – and it’s reportedly just the midfielder’s wage demands which are stalling the transfer – it will surely deal a blow to Gasperini as he embarks on his role as head coach with the Giuseppe Meazza outfit.

Indeed, Sneijder was a key component in Inter’s incredible 2009/10 campaign when they won the Italian top-flight title, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League. But the 27-year-old, who is under contract until 2015 at Inter, probably feels as though the time is right for a new challenge. Sneijder has now won medals in his native Holland, Spain and Italy, and the prospect of joining 19-time champions in England, Manchester United, will no doubt be an appealing prospect.

The arrival of Argentinean Ricky Alvarez will help, but looking ahead from an ante-post betting perspective, the Diavolo look the more solid side in my opinion, so my advice is to back AC to reign in the Italian top-flight once again, about which expekt are offering a standout price of 2.45.

Recommendation: AC Milan to win ther 2011/12 Serie A title