Inter's Black Hole Snatches Henrique: Milan's January Puzzle Deepens

Background

Inter Milan’s season has become a puzzle since the January window opened, with Luis Henrique at the center. The Brazilian arrived after Marseille, with Inter paying 25 million euros for a winger expected to dribble, create chances, and contribute goals. Months in, the promised spark remains missing, and it looks like a Milanese black hole has swallowed Henrique’s form, leaving supporters waiting for a sign he can repay the faith.

Current Situation

Part of the delay lies in adapting to a new environment and a tactical setup that prizes balance over flash. The head coach has given Henrique opportunities, but he has yet to impose himself consistently. Inter’s attackers are now required to contribute to team structure, and Henrique, early in his path, has found that harder to achieve than expected.

On the pitch, Henrique has started seven of the last eight league games (ten appearances overall) and featured in four European and domestic cup fixtures. Outside of a standout performance against Como, capped by a decisive assist, his influence has been limited. Against Arsenal, he produced another muted display and did not leave a noticeable imprint on the opening goal by Gabriel Jesus.

What’s Next?

With Dumfries sidelined by an ankle operation, the right-wing slot remains unsettled. Darmian has returned from injury, while a midfielder-on-the-wing option still needs time to adapt. Fans are waiting for the “real” Henrique to reappear and for the right-wing choices to tilt Inter’s balance back toward positive results.

Statistically, Henrique has logged 1,251 minutes this season, 923 of them in the league. He has zero goals and one assist, taken 15 shots (five on target), delivered 24 crosses with a little over 50% success, won 11 duels, recovered five balls, and completed five dribbles with a sub-50% success rate. The numbers stand in sharp contrast to the fee paid for his transfer.

Consequently, Inter continues to scan the market for high-quality options. After the Cancelo deal fizzled and ended up elsewhere, the Nerazzurri are weighing several names. In the long run, Verona’s Belghali is on the radar for June, but a January move is unlikely since he has already played for two clubs this season. In the short term, the option of bringing back Ivan Perisic remains on the table, even if he would turn 37 in February, because he is a fixture for PSV Eindhoven this season with five goals and ten assists. Eindhoven have closed doors so far, but the final days of the window could bring surprises. Milaners still remember Perisic’s golden years: 55 goals in 254 Inter appearances.

Inter’s next moves will unfold in the coming days as mercato chatter intensifies. The drama continues, and so do the jokes—because in football, the only thing more constant than change is the rumor mill’s ability to produce new headlines daily. Punchline time: if a transfer window were a coffee, Inter’s would be decaffeinated—lots of buzz, little caffeine. Punchline two: Henrique might need a Marseille flashback to rekindle his spark before Milan lights up again.