Inter Player Ratings for 23/24 Season: Lautaro Leads Nerazzurri to Second Star

Following a hectic summer at Appiano Gentile, most of us didn’t know what to make of the Inter squad that emerged from the storm. The club lost the services of key veterans and locker-room leaders like Samir Handanovic, Marcelo Brozovic and Edin Dzeko, as well as André Onana who was superb last term. And let’s not even mention the Romelu Lukaku soap opera which was a looming shadow over the club’s affairs for the entire summer.

On the other hand, twelve new players arrived at the club, which could have easily been the perfect recipe for a disastrous campaign. Yet, Simone Inzaghi expertly managed to merge the old with the new to form a compatible unit that proved unstoppable on the domestic scene.

Like Napoli last term, the Nerazzurri marched toward the Scudetto title almost uncontested, especially when Juventus faltered in February, while Milan were never a genuine threat in the first place, something we learned as early as September when they systematically dismantled in the Derby della Madonnina.

Therefore, Inter were simply brilliant in all phases throughout a glorious campaign that saw them unlock the coveted second star. The only blemish was the early Champions League exit against Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16 at a time when the expectations were at their highest.

So who were the main protagonists in this historic campaign for the Beneamata? It’s time to reveal our player ratings for every member of the Inter first team based on their performances throughout the entire 2023/24 season.

Goalkeepers

Yann Sommer – 7.5

The 35-year-old had large gloves to fill following Andre Onana’s departure. But with 19 clean sheets from 34 appearances, the Switzerland international certainly presented himself as a calm and reliable presence at the back. Although there were matchdays where his services were hardly needed, he also had to pull off some impeccable saves to preserve the result on other occasions.

Emil Audero – 6

The Sampdoria loanee didn’t embarrass himself in his occasional appearances, but he never truly delivered the type of performance that warrants a long-term future at the club. Therefore the Nerazzurri are unlikely to splash €7 million to keep him at Pinetina.

Raffaele Di Gennaro – N/A

Defenders 

Benjamin Pavard – 8

The Frenchman proved why Inter were so keen to secure his services last summer rather than waiting for his contract to expire, even if it meant splashing a substantial transfer fee. The 2018 World Cup winner was simply made for the right central defender role in a three-man backline, as he managed to showcase his incredible defensive prowess while occasionally darting forward to support his teammates up front.

Yann Bisseck – 6.5

A solid debut season for the young German who arrived as a relatively unknown player. Although he struggled to gain playing time at first, he eventually proved himself capable of swimming with sharks. The perfect backup for Pavard.

Francesco Acerbi – 7.5

All controversy aside, the Italian veteran continues to defy Father Time, as he was once again an unbendable stalwart at the heart of Inzaghi’s backline. His ability to man-mark a centre-forward out of the match is second to none.

Stefan de Vrij – 6.5

The Dutchman’s career was on the decline over the past two campaigns, but he managed to bounce back with a solid if not spectacular season. The former Lazio man has been reliable in defense whenever called upon, but unfortunately had a forgettable outing in Madrid when Inter were eliminated from the Champions League.

Alessandro Bastoni – 8

Year after year, the Italy international continues to develop his game and prove himself to be arguably the most complete defender in the peninsula. The 25-year-old is a modern centre-back who can impede the finest strikers, while also contributing to the attacking phase with his excellent distribution and sublime crosses.

Wingbacks

Denzel Dumfries – 6.5

The Dutchman was among the best Inter performers at the start of the season, contributing with goals and assists. However, an injury in December allowed Darmian to usurp him in the pecking order, so he endured an underwhelming second half of the season. It remains to be seen if this is going to be his last campaign at San Siro.

Matteo Darmian – 7

At this point, we might just change his name to Mr. Reliable. After filling at the back last season due to Milan Skriniar’s injury, the Italian veteran returned to his original role as wingback, and proved he still has the legs to register impressive figures on the mileage. His renowned versatility earned him a call-up to Luciano Spalletti’s provisional Euro 2024 squad.

Juan Cuadrado – 5.5

Unfortunately for the former Juventus man, his campaign was plagued by an Achilles tendon issue that eventually forced him to go under the knife and thus miss the bulk of the season. Therefore, his highlight reel is rather limited, but at least he’ll be heading towards the exit door with another Scudetto medal to add to his illustrious collection.

Federico Dimarco – 8

The Italian continues to cement his claim as one of the best wingbacks in the world. Whether he’s scoring from 50 yards or darting the left flank with his menacing runs, he has been a formidable weapon at Inzaghi’s disposal.

Carlos Augusto – 6.5

The Brazilian didn’t truly set the Meazza ablaze in his first campaign at the club, and certainly didn’t replicate his impeccable attacking stats from last season. However, the former Monza man has proved to be a reliable backup for both Dimarco and Bastoni. In other words, he’s gradually morphing into Darmian’s left flank’s equivalent.

Tajon Buchanan – 5.5

The Canadian joined the club in January as a replacement for the injured Cuadrado. But with Darmian and Dumfries battling it out for a starting spot, he never had a sniff on the right wing. Nevertheless, Inzaghi deployed him as an understudy to Dimarco on the left, allowing him to collect a few cameos. Inter fans will expect him to have a bigger impact starting next season

Midfielders

Nicolò Barella – 8

If it wasn’t for a relatively slow start to the season, the Sardinian could have been a genuine contender for the Inter Player of the Season. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old has been majestic since January. The Euro 2020 can cover every grass of the pitch without jeopardizing his technical skills.

Davide Frattesi – 7

Although he didn’t lock himself a starting berth on his maiden campaign at Inter as many had expected, the Italian established himself as Inzaghi’s ultimate super-sub. The 24-year-old’s tenacity and desire were game-changing factors on several occasions, and so were his last-gasp goals. Talk about efficiency!

Hakan Calhanoglu – 8.5

This was the season when Hakan Calhanoglu announced himself as the best deep-lying playmaker in Italy, and perhaps even in Europe. It feels as if the Turk’s career path was gradually setting him up for this stage, as he’s putting all the craft and experience he acquired while playing in more advanced roles on the pitch to excel is his new position. The 30-year-old has been pulling the strings for the Nerazzurri with his elegant distribution and fascinating vision.

Kristjan Asllani – 6.5

When your direct competitor for a starting spot is one of the best in the world, you’re bound to struggle for playing time. Nevertheless, the young Albanian has been showing great signs of improvement this term, proving he can be Inter’s long-term solution for the Regista role. But how much patience he has, remains the question.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 8

Here’s a man who continues to defy the odds. When he joined Inter in 2022, most observers tipped him for a squad role, but instead, he immediately carved himself a regular starting position. Last summer, many believed Frattesi’s arrival would relegate him to the bench, but on the contrary, the Armenian took his game to a whole new level, showing no signs of age or tiredness, as he continues to act as the main link between Inter’s midfield and attack.

Davy Klaassen – 5

The 31-year-old rescinded his contract with Ajax on the last day of August to join Inter for free, but aside from a Scudetto medal, he will have little to show from his brief experience in Italian football given his limited contribution to the cause.

Stefano Sensi – 5

After 18 months on loan between Sampdoria and Monza, this was the Italian’s last chance to revive his career with Inter, but was once again impeded by injuries. He almost joined Leicester in January, but eventually ended up seeing out the last remaining months of his contract while sitting in the dugout.

Strikers

Lautaro Martinez – 9

After playing the sidekick role for Lukaku and Edin Dzeko over the past few years, the Argentine has finally emerged as THE man upfront for the Nerazzurri. The World Cup winner immediately managed to take his up a notch after inheriting the captain’s armband, transforming himself into a goalscoring machine. Although his goals dried up in recent months, the damage had already been done. Perhaps his role in the UCL elimination is the only blemish of an otherwise sensational campaign for the skipper.

Marko Arnautovic – 5.5

One of the few issues that haunted Inzaghi this season was the gap in quality between his main starters and their backups. The Austrian was able to collect a few goals every now and then, but the Nerazzurri recognized the need for a more reliable substitute, hence the signing of Mehdi Taremi.

Marcus Thuram – 8.5

The Frenchman wasn’t intended to play as a starter this season, but Lukaku’s departure presented him with a golden opening, and he certainly latched onto the opportunity. The 26-year-old immediately formed a great understanding with Lautaro, and is ending his campaign with 15 goals and 14 assists in the tally. Not bad for a debut campaign!

Alexis Sanchez – 6

The Chilean’s condition hampered his displays at the start of the season, but he remains the one capable of adding a flair to the final third with his elusive skillset and impeccable vision. However, the 35-year-old’s second stint at the club is likely drawing to a close.