Jay-Z’s agency could be the key to signing the Englishman. The Algerian and Croatian Valincic are on the radar, but the ultimate dream remains Palestra…
For the past five games, the Nerazzurri’s right flank has been the domain of Luis Henrique, nicknamed “Gigi” due to the Italian-sounding name—a rare example of a shy Brazilian—bought for 25 million euros specifically to give Dumfries some breathing room. Now that the Dutchman is out with an injury and will be cheering from the sidelines for who knows how long, the former Marseille player is stepping up even more, but he’s still expected to show more dribbling and initiative. As things stand, Gigi is certainly not enough. That’s why the Nerazzurri management has no choice but to return to exploring the transfer market: the role is crucial, and acting as early as January reduces the risk of regretting it later. A final decision hasn’t been made yet, but they’re scrutinizing opportunities and promising prospects, both in Italy and abroad: whether it’s a loan deal or a permanent signing for that position will depend on the options on the table (and on how much they truly believe Dumfries will stay in the summer). Meanwhile, deliberations are deepening, and appreciation for the young Englishman who took the field last Sunday at Marassi is growing by the day: at 21, Brooke Norton-Cuffy is like the protagonist of Paolo Conte’s “Genova per noi”—he has found a home and a sense of wonder beneath the Lanterna.
The Nerazzurri had put him on their list for next summer, alongside Marco Palestra in particular—Atalanta’s fastest player in the West. Just how difficult it is to pry a player away from Atalanta was demonstrated by the Lookman deal, and that’s also why Inter simultaneously turned their attention to Genoa’s speedster. Dumfries’ troubles merely accelerated the process, though in any hypothetical negotiations, the long-standing friendship with the American agency representing him would play a major role. It’s good news coming from the ghetto and sounds very familiar to the Nerazzurri: Roc Nation, owned by rap giant Jay-Z—the same agency that managed Inter’s Lukaku and was instrumental in bringing him back to Milan. In fact, Roc Nation parted ways with the Belgian precisely over the controversial issue of his contract extension in the summer of 2023, and, incidentally, now also manages Dimarco. The channels of communication are open and facilitate dialogue, even if 20 million in January is a hefty sum.
Other leads— At the same time, President Beppe Marotta and sporting director Piero Ausilio are broadening their search and have taken note of Rafik Belghali’s impact on the Italian league: the 23-year-old Algerian full-back had already been flagged before joining Verona, but the fact that he’ll have to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations right when he’d be most useful cannot be overlooked. Not ideal, in short. On the scouting front—a priority for Oaktree, focusing on young players to snap up before their valuations skyrocket—Inter could also look to Croatia, a talent hotbed dear to the Nerazzurri. Moris Valincic is a 23-year-old right winger from Dinamo Zagreb valued at €18 million and a fan of Eros Ramazzotti: he’s particularly well-liked and has the potential to follow in Dumfries’ footsteps. A move similar to the Sucic deal is conceivable if other options on the right prove unfeasible.
