Real Madrid’s talented youngster Achraf Hakimi recently completed a €40 million ($44.9 million) transfer to Inter Milan after spending the past two seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund.
The Moroccan has signed a five-year contract with the Serie A club, who have been on a spending spree for the past few seasons.
That being said, after Hakimi’s move was confirmed, we decided to compile a list of the ten most expensive signings of Inter Milan throughout the club’s illustrious history.
#10 Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa (€29.5m from Santos in 2016)
The Brazilian prodigy starred for Santos’ youth sides, and his prolific goalscoring record earned him the attention of various European elites before Inter Milan snapped him up in the summer of 2016.
However, Gabigol struggled to break into the playing XI and was subsequently sent out on loan to Benfica next season. However, after just six months the youngster was loaned out to his boyhood club again, due to lack of playing time in Portugal.
After making just 10 appearances for Inter, he was sold to Flamengo earlier this year, having spent the 2019 season with the Brazilian club on loan.
#9 Alessandro Bastoni (€31.1m from Atalanta in 2017)
The highly-rated Italian defender joined the Nerazzurri in 2017, for a reported fee of €31.1m, from Atalanta.
Bastoni was subsequently sent back on a two-year loan to La Dea immediately, and after seeing his progress, Inter recalled him in 2018 and extended his contract until 2023.
He spent the 2018-19 season on loan at Parma before featuring prominently for Inter in the present campaign.
#8 Milan Skriniar (€34m from Sampdoria in 2017)
After impressing with Sampdoria for one-and-a-half season, Inter Milan snapped up Milan Skriniar for a fee of €34m in the summer of 2017. Since then, he’s gone from strength to strength, becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet.
The Slovakian centre-back has already amassed over 120 appearances for the team, and due to his stellar performances and young age, Milan has been heavily linked with various big clubs, including the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City.
#7 Hernan Crespo (€36m from Lazio in 2002)
Hernan Crespo first played at the San Siro after the Serie A giants acquired his signature from Lazio, for a fee of €36m in 2002.
He was excellent but the striker’s season was cut short by a lengthy injury layoff, which saw him being shipped off to Chelsea after just one year.
Crespo returned to play in the colours of Inter Milan once again on a two-year loan between 2006-08, with the move subsequently being made permanent by the club. However, a year later, he was sold once again, to Genoa, in the summer of 2009.
#6 Geoffrey Kondogbia (€36m from Monaco in 2016)
After starring for Monaco in Ligue 1, Geoffrey Kondogbia earned himself a move to the Italian capital in the summer of 2015. However, the midfielder’s underwhelming performances meant that he only played 56 times for Inter.
In 2017, he was loaned out to Valencia, and a year later the move was made permanent, and Kondogbia has been a regular feature for Los Che ever since.
#5 Radja Nainggolan (38m from AS Roma in 2018)
The Belgian midfielder has been one of the best performers in Serie A in recent seasons and so, despite his age, Inter Milan moved quickly to sign Radja Nainggolan in the summer of 2018.
After a season, the veteran midfielder was sent out on loan to Cagliari ahead of this season, due to some disciplinary issues. However, he has impressed a lot playing for the Islanders.
With Antonio Conte, who is a strict tactician, at the helm at Inter Milan, it remains to be seen where Nainggolan plays next season.
#4 Joao Mario (€40m from Sporting CP in 2016)
Joao Mario rose through the youth ranks at Sporting CP before making his first-team bow in 2011. After an impressive five-year spell, the Nerazzuri decided to sign Mario in the summer of 2016, for a fee of €40m.
The Portuguese midfielder struggled to justify the hefty price tag and was subsequently loaned out to West Ham after two seasons at the San Siro.
After another mediocre outing in England, Mario is currently on loan at Lokomotiv Moscow, and a permanent move away from the Serie A giants could help him revive his career.
#3 Achraf Hakimi (€40m from Real Madrid in 2020)
Courtesy of his recent move to Inter Milan, Achraf Hakimi became the club’s joint third-most-expensive acquisition alongside Joao Mario. Having risen through the ranks at La Fabrica, the Morrocan full-back made just 17 appearances for the senior team.
He was sent out on loan to Borussia Dortmund to gain some experience at top-level, and the 21-year-old has been hugely impressive in Germany which is why the Nerazzurri decided to snap him up.
Capable of playing on either flank and in the midfield as well, Inter have pulled off a major coup in signing Achraf Hakimi.
#2 Christian Vieri (€46.5m from Lazio in 1999)
After impressing with Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Lazio earlier in his career, Christian Vieri became Inter Milan’s most expensive signing back in the day for a record fee of €46.5m.
The Italian striker played 190 times for the San Siro-based club, scoring 122 goals and thereby becoming a true legend, who is fondly remembered till date.
During his stint with the Nerazzurri, Vieri helped the club win just a solitary major title – the Coppa Italia in 2004-05. But nonetheless, he will go down in the folklore as an all-time great.
#1 Romelu Lukaku (€65m from Manchester United in 2019)
Few would have expected Romelu Lukaku to have such a stunning impact in his debut season with Inter Milan. Upon his big-money moved from Manchester United, Lukaku became the club’s most expensive player ever, and he’s lived up to the hype.
The Belgian has been playing as a man possessed, having scored 25 goals across all competitions in 40 appearances, whilst also setting up five for his teammates.
Lukaku struggled a lot at the Old Trafford, but his success story at the San Siro is only just beginning, and judging by the initial signs, it’s going to be a great ride.
All stats courtesy: Transfermarkt.co.in