Speaking ahead of their first match on Sunday night away at Chievo, Frank de Boer has been quizzed about the transfer market and Moussa Sissoko in particular.
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The Dutchman was in charge of Ajax, before taking over at Inter.
Birsa’s quick feet and composed strike opened the scoring – the first goal Inter have conceded on the opening weekend of a league campaign since 2011 – before the same man added a second from distance with nine minutes remaining.
Should the deal be completed, he might not be the only new face through the door after Inter were recently linked with Newcastle midfielder Sissoko, and De Boer has not denied holding both the Frenchman and Mario in high regard.
Mauro Icardi had been the match-winner for Mancini in both clashes against this opposition last term, but he was starved of service in a rugged encounter. Stopped one of Chievo’s ventures forward in the first half, but struggled in the second.
The hosts had their first sight of goal shortly before the break, but Meggiorini dragged wide of the near post after running clear from Lucas Castro’s throughball.
Eder was the visitor’s biggest threat and he forced Stefano Sorrentino into a good save after 17 minutes before Andrea Ranocchia worked the Chievo goalkeeper again. A neat passing move set Fabrizio Cacciatore away to tee up Birsa, who beat D’Ambrosio and Rannochia before firing in a low finish. Constantly out of position, and he didn’t take advantage of his chances in attack. He told the press that Candreva couldn’t last the full 90 minutes which gave the impression that he would come off the bench, yet the Italian started the game over Ivan Perisic. Going down a second goal seemed to light a bit of fire in the Inter players and Palacio, Kondogbia, and Ranocchia all tried to grab a late consolation goal but were unable to prevent the final score from being 2-0.
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– Birsa scored his first double in Serie A.
