Decisive For Italy, On The Bench For Inter Milan – Azzurri Nations League Hero’s Paradox

Midfielder Davide Frattesi has continued to see a “paradoxical” gap between his importance for Italy and Inter Milan.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, note how the last few weeks have virtually been Frattesi’s situation in microcosm.

Since the start of the season, Frattesi has made five appearances for club and country.

The 24-year-old has played in all three of Inter’s matches in Serie A to date, and both of Italy’s Nations League fixtures during the international break.

However, the nature of these appearances has been very different indeed.

For Inter, Frattesi has yet to make a start. All of his appearances have come off the bench.

And for Italy, on the other hand, the former Sassuolo midfielder played from the start in both matches.

As the Gazzetta notes, Frattesi has started 66% of Italy’s matches under Luciano Spalletti. There is no question that the coach views him as part of the first-choice starting eleven.

On the other hand, Frattesi has started in just 26% of the Inter matches that he has appeared in.

Davide Frattesi A Paradox For Italy & Inter

And it has not been a mystery why Italy coach Spalletti has put so much trust in Frattesi.

The Inter midfielder has arguably been the Azzurri’s outstanding performer of this international break. He scored in wins against both France and Israel.

But at the same time, it’s not really a mystery why Frattesi has struggled to break into the Inter starting lineup.

Even with all his quality, Frattesi has top players ahead of him in the pecking order at the Nerazzurri.

Inter have had a fairly settled midfield trio. This has consisted of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Nicolo Barella.

And then this summer, the Nerazzurri brought in Piotr Zielinski from Napoli.

Over the summer, the Gazzetta note, Frattesi’s agent did ask Inter for a frank answer regarding what kind of future he had in terms of playing time.

But Inter, for their part, made clear that they do not see Frattesi as for sale.

There was interest from the Nerazzurri’s Derby d’Italia rivals Juventus. But Inter sent a clear “hands off” message, even if for the time being Frattesi is not starting regularly.