Inter Milan vs Juventus "a different story" to 5 years ago

The Derby d’Italia between Inter Milan and Juventus has become “a whole different story” compared to just five years ago.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, highlight how the dynamic has completely shifted in terms of age and experience.

Historically, Juventus have often been a team that have lived up to their nickname of “The Old Lady.”

The Bianconeri relied on a lot of experience during their most successful recent period.

The spine of of the Juventus team had been comprised of players who know exactly how to get the job done.

Inter, on the other hand, had to try and rebuild just a few years ago.

The Nerazzurri had found themselves in a difficult situation as the result of too many players aging out of their best form.

Therefore, starting in the second half of last decade, Inter began to focus more on youth.

In recent years, though, this dynamic has changed.

Since their last Serie A title in the 2019-20 season, Juventus have been the ones having to rebuild.

The Bianconeri have really accelerated their focus on youth and potential in the last couple of years. That has coincided with the arrival of Cristiano Giuntoli as the club’s Sporting Director.

And the numbers paint a stark picture of this Juventus team’s youthfulness. And potentially of their inexperience.

Five years ago, the average age of the Bianconeri squad was 28.4. That has absolutely plummeted, to 24.2.

The focus on signing younger players along with a number of players just starting to break through from the “Next Gen” youth ranks has rejuvenated a team that not long ago were reliant on players with great experience.

For Inter, on the other hand, the trend has been different, if less dramatic.

Five years ago, the average age of Inter’s squad was 27.7. That was at a period when the Nerazzurri were just regaining their footing as a force in Serie A.

Now, that number has risen to 29.2.

Inter have relied a lot on veteran players like Francesco Acerbi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. They have also dipped into the free transfer market quite frequently.

That is also the hallmark of Inter President and CEO of Sport Beppe Marotta. And not coincidentally, Marotta had also been the architect of Juventus’s transfer strategy in the recent past.