Inter heartbreak for letting the players of the summer go

Inter Milan must be pulling out their hair. After they failed to make a mark Serie A, Inter let go two of the players with probably the most admirers around the world at the moment.

The more obvious case is Philippe Coutinho, who was practically gifted to Liverpool for just €13m in 2013. Today he is worth €100m more than that.

The Brazilian international never really settled in Milan and it was during his loan spell at Espanyol when he realised that the problem was that he couldn't adapt to football in Italy. In Barcelona he played regularly and shone, then barely a year later Liverpool brought him to the Premier League.

A similar case, although with slight nuances, is Mateo Kovacic. The Croatian is widely considered as Luka Modric's heir at Real Madrid and with every day that passes it seems that his quality and understanding of the game improves.

Kovacic is not for sale. but whoever wants to try and take him from Madrid would have to part with around €70m. A fee which was unthinkable when Rafa Benítez spent €31m on bringing him to the Bernabeu. That was the one positive Benitez provided during a half-season to forget in Madrid.

Two players that could have gone on to greatness at Inter, but instead underline the bad things the 'Nerazzurro' has done since the treble win under Mourinho.