New Inter signing didn’t waste Coppa Italia chance

New Inter signing Andy Diouf contributed to Inter’s 5-1 win over Venezia in the Coppa Italia Round of 16, and the Frenchman’s versatility could offer him even more chances going forward.

Diouf scored his first goal for Inter on Wednesday, opening the account in a comfortable 5-1 win over Serie B side Venezia in the Coppa Italia Round of 16.

Diouf joined Inter last summer, but has been struggling with playing time so far, collecting just 144 minutes on the pitch. Technically, the 22-year-old was drafted in to boost Cristian Chivu’s options in central midfield, but Diouf has been tested in a different role in recent weeks at the Stadio Meazza.

The former Rennes man, in fact, played the last two games as a right midfielder. First in a Serie A match against Pisa, where he made a substitute appearance, playing for 23 minutes, and then against Venezia in Coppa Italia, when he played the full match and scored after just 18 minutes.

“I’m happy for those who played their first at San Siro, those Under-23 players who I knew pretty well,” Chivu said at full-time.

“I’m pleased for Andy Diouf, who had his first start and full 90 minutes, and scored a goal. There are many reasons to be happy this evening.”

As Chivu continues to shape Inter’s squad, Romanian gambling sites are buzzing with predictions on how far the coach can take the Nerazzurri, and other new signings have been instrumental in the team’s positive results so far this season.

One that surely stands out is Ange Bonny, who moved to San Siro from Parma and has proved to be a very reliable backup to starting strikers Marcus Thiram and Lautaro Martinez.

Bonny has collected five goals and six assists across all competitions this season, netting four times in Serie A and once in Coppa Italia.

Petar Sucic, a Croatian central midfielder, was obviously not as effective in the final third but has been showing great personality in replacing veteran Henrikh Mkhitaryan and still grabbed one goal and two assists so far.

Luis Henrique, on the other hand, has been struggling more than the other newcomers, having failed to earn a starting spot even after Denzel Dumfries’ injury.

The Brazilian started as a left midfielder against Venezia in Inter’s latest Coppa Italia match. He showed promising improvements, but was still subbed off at minute 60, making room for the product of Inter academy Matteo Cocchi, who made his second appearance at a senior level for the Serie A giants.