Raoul Bellanova is coming back to face Inter Milan as something of a “prodigal son” with Torino this weekend.
This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper La Stampa, via FCInterNews.
Bellanova spent last season as an Inter player.
The Italian international was at the Nerazzurri on loan from Cagliari.
It was not an easy season for Bellanova. He had to settle for a role on the bench, virtually never starting matches.
The 23-year-old can say that he’s played in a Champions League final, as he came on as a substitute for Inter against Manchester City last June.
But the reality is that Bellanova did not play much.
There were eighteen appearances in Serie A, and 22 in all competitions for Bellanova. But these amounted to just 454 minutes in the League, as the Italian made a lot of cameo appearances.
Bellanova also admitted that it was hard for him to be booed by the San Siro in a Serie A clash with Empoli.
Raoul Bellanova Returns To Inter As “Prodigal Son” With Torino
It was therefore not all that surprising to see Bellanova leave Inter last summer.
The Nerazzurri did have an option to sign the 23-year-old on a permanent basis from Cagliari after his loan expired.
But Inter tried to negotiate a lower fee. And that left the door open for Torino to swoop.
The Granata made a higher offer for Bellanova, as they were ready to place their faith in the young wingback.
And in truth, it has been a highly beneficial move for Bellanova.
Where he was on the fringes at Inter, Bellanova is a key part of Torino’s starting eleven.
He has already gotten more than four times as many league minutes for the Granata as he did last season for Inter.
And Bellanova has made good use of those opportunities to play.
The 23-year-old has scored one goal and assisted six for Torino.
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