Not all free agent signings are meant to go down well. They might be low-risk signings but they still bring an extra player and the burden of playing them with it. Inter though, know-how even a free-agent signing can go wrong. The case of Diego Godin proves just that.
His move came to the nerazzurri this past summer. Leaving Atletico Madrid was certainly not the easiest decision to make for the Uruguayan but he was seen as the part of a big Antonio Conte revolution. He was to join one of the biggest clubs in Italy and test himself amongst the elite once again.
It did start out well for Godin. He didn’t start against Lecce and Cagliari but did very well as the wide central defender against Udinese, Milan and Lazio. He was looking strong in the tackle, reading the game well. Stefan de Vrij was (still is) the centre of the back three, while Milan Skriniar was on the left. Godin has a regular as the right centre-back, allowing Conte’s men security on that side.
Then came a familiar meeting against Cristiano Ronaldo. Since then, Godin hasn’t quite been the same. In the 2-1 loss to Juventus, Godin was run ragged by Ronaldo in a game that leading online bookmaking site Nostrabet had tipped as an Inter victory. That exposed his weakness, as he was caught out by pace on that side many times. This saw Conte bring Alessandro Bastoni in for Godin minutes after the second-half began.
Since then, there have been some good games. But there have been average ones as well. Against pacy attacks like what Parma had in Yann Karamoh and Gervinho, Godin became a liability to the point where Conte had to take him. Against Roberto D’Aversa’s men, Godin was dribbled past once and was dispossessed once. This led to De Vrij coming on for him.
In the last nine games currently, Godin has started five. Bastoni has established himself as a regular and is seen as someone who can play for Italy at EURO 2020. While if that happens or not is anyone’s guess, but that doesn’t really help Godin’s situation.
Bastoni is younger and is less prone to getting caught by pace. Godin has been dribbled past 0.7 times per game this season. That is the highest tally of his career- higher than any single La Liga campaign with Atletico or Villarreal. He has made only 1.8 interceptions per game- the second-lowest in his career.
His ability on the ball and supply balls to wing-backs can’t be questioned. It is a key part of Inter’s style as the wing-backs play either Lautaro Martinez or Romelu Lukaku in. But Bastoni has lost possession 9.1 times per 90 minutes, while Godin’s tally is at 11. The young Italian has a much better passing percentage on him too.
Not just that, but Bastoni has made 6.81 recoveries per game while Godin’s number stands at 5.45. That doesn’t point to the fact that Bastoni is a better player. It is just that Godin isn’t as good when playing as the right or the left-sided centre-back. The veteran is better off as a central defender in a flat back-four. That isn’t something Conte ever plays with his system.
Inter have drawn links with Marash Kumbulla recently and that is a sensible move. The youngster is adept at playing in a back-three under Ivan Juric at Verona. He is more reliable in that role than Godin. More so, Inter already have Danilo D’Ambrosio who has either been used as a right wing-back or as a right-sided centre-back. He too can do a job.
Godin came as a free-agent and with his current deal expiring in the summer of 2022, there is still time for Inter. Godin might still get used to the system over time, but that isn’t likely at 34. He can’t be as quick as a younger defender and that is a rather natural process.
