One of Inzaghi’s Five Gifts Reveals the Source of Inter Milan’s Magic: New Wingback Candidate Emerges

In today’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, the front page features the headline "Inzaghi’s Five Gifts." Among these gifts are the contract renewals for Lautaro Martínez and Nicolò Barella, the signing of backup goalkeeper Yann Sommer, and the pursuit of a forward like Joshua Zirkzee. However, these are relatively old news, briefly mentioned. One of the lesser-discussed gifts is the potential signing of Atalanta’s young wingback Emil Holm as a possible replacement if Denzel Dumfries' contract renewal negotiations fall through.

The industry consensus is that if Dumfries' renewal demands exceed €9 million gross per year (including bonuses), Inter Milan must seriously consider the value. This concern is not solely due to maintaining salary balance but also because high-quality forwards who are affordable for Inter are hard to find. However, tall, athletic wingbacks like Holm are not as rare. Holm has been a long-term target. By reviewing Holm's history and connection with Inter, one can better understand the management style of Inter's executives and how they perform "magic" like signing players such as André Onana and Marcus Thuram.

Holm, born in May 2000, is a right-sided wingback who has appeared in 30 matches across all competitions for Atalanta this season, scoring one goal and providing four assists. Standing at 1.91 meters, he is muscular, tough in duels, and highly active defensively. Offensively, he possesses notable strengths. Like Dumfries, Holm has powerful forward runs and is strong in aerial duels (averaging over four successful aerial challenges per game in Serie A, ranking highly across all positions). His long-range shooting ability also surpasses Dumfries’. However, Holm’s weaknesses are evident—his dribbling and ball control are rough, making him a liability when required to maneuver in tight spaces. In summary, he is a "ball-less wingback" playing on the "weak offensive side."

Unlike the 28-year-old Dumfries, Holm is only 23 and still rapidly improving. Over the past two years, he has made significant strides in ball control, weaker foot accuracy, and defensive awareness, solidifying his place in the Swedish national team. Market experts note that despite Holm's youth, he has been on Inter's radar for many years. During the 2017-18 UEFA Youth League, Holm faced Inter's youth team led by Andrea Pinamonti. He truly caught Inter's attention during the U21 European Championship qualifiers, where his assist against Italy's U21 team left a strong impression on Inter scouts who were initially there to observe Sandro Tonali.

In 2021, Holm sought to leave the Nordic leagues. His agent visited Italy to market him to various clubs, including Inter. Ultimately, Holm joined Spezia, but Inter's management established a stable relationship with his agent, Patrick Mork. Last season, Holm played 23 times for Spezia, scoring once and assisting twice. In the summer of 2023, Inter was close to signing Holm. According to Di Marzio and Stoppini, Inter had to choose between Holm and Carlos Augusto. They eventually chose the Brazilian based on overall squad balance. Holm then joined Atalanta on loan with a €2.5 million fee and an €8.5 million buyout clause.

Throughout this period, Inter has maintained contact with Holm and his team, consistently scouting him. Notable instances include Marotta’s presence at the Atalanta vs. Napoli match in November 2023, where Holm was one of the targets, and Baccin’s attendance at Sweden's match against Albania in March 2024, where Holm was again under observation. Holm has never been out of Inter’s transfer discussions. He has been a focus for many years, and today, his priority status is high, with smooth communication between Inter and his camp. Should Dumfries leave, Inter securing Holm’s transfer would be straightforward.

However, despite being one of "Inzaghi’s Five Gifts" listed by La Gazzetta dello Sport, it’s still early to say that Inter will definitely sign Holm. Firstly, it's uncertain if Dumfries can be sold at a good price. Secondly, Holm is currently on loan, and it remains to be seen whether Atalanta can secure a Champions League spot and finalize his buyout. The player’s ownership situation, whether he stays with Atalanta or returns to Spezia, is also uncertain. Nonetheless, Inter’s persistent efforts surrounding Holm illustrate the transfer strategy and style of their management team.

In recent years, Inter has faced financial constraints, relying on their executives' "magic" to enhance the squad. How is this magic performed? The key lies in diligence. Executives like Piero Ausilio engage in extensive, long-term daily work, laying the groundwork for everything. For example, after narrowly missing out on Thuram two years ago, they maintained contact with him. Similarly, they continued to scout Holm even after missing out on him last year. The value and actual returns of these efforts are uncertain, given Inter's financial situation. Most of the players they scout and approach are beyond their budget, resulting in a lot of "useless work." But without these efforts, what would they rely on when unexpected opportunities arise? Certainly not the superficial "big data" promoted by American capital.

Therefore, whether Inter will sign Holm remains to be seen. However, through this player, one can gain a deeper understanding of Inter’s transfer strategy and the management style of their executives.