Marcelo Brozović: Epically Underrated
Though the 2018 World Cup shined a light on the tremendous talent Croatia has to offer, one name that went under the radar throughout the tournament was Marcelo Brozović. The Croatian midfield carried the nation to glory, with the likes of Rakitic, Modrić, and Kovačić all contributing to their magical run to the Final. Though Rakitić and Modrić received lots of well-deserved praise in the press, Brozović’s name was hardly mentioned. In the semifinal alone, Brozović covered 16.4km of distance, shattering the tournament’s previous record of 15.9km. As many of Croatia’s matches extended to penalty shootouts, his endurance and relentless pressing were critical to the team’s tactics. With many clubs fighting for his signature this summer, Inter Milan has been able to secure his services for another 4 years. The news was music to the ears of Nerazzurri supporters, as the midfielder’s transcendence since Spalletti’s reign has been nothing short of sensational. Though he has certainly come with some off-field controversy, his fighting spirit on the pitch has more than made up for these minor incidents.
Serving as the deputy captain of Italy’s reigning champions, he is finally starting to receive the praise he deserves, as he looks set to be awarded the Serie A Midfielder of the Year award at the end of the season. Labeled as ‘Epic Brozo’ due to his iconic goal celebration, his rise to the summit of Italian Football has certainly lived up to the name. Just four years ago, Brozović was hours away from being shipped to Sevilla in the January transfer window, having been booed off the pitch in recent months for his lackluster performances. Thus, it seems necessary to dive into exactly what changed to transform Brozović into one of Europe’s finest midfielders.
When he arrived at Inter Milan from Dinamo Zagreb in 2015, Marcelo was touted as a young prospect with lots of room for growth. The success of compatriot Mateo Kovačić in the black-and-blue set high expectations for Brozović from the get-go, as many fans hoped for a similar impact from the midfielder. Deputized as an attacking midfielder, Brozović had a very underwhelming first few seasons in Milan, as he was never able to nail down a starting spot. The departure of many competing midfielders allowed Brozović to maintain relatively consistent minutes, however, his subpar output left a bitter taste in the mouth of many supporters. Meanwhile, teammate Mateo Kovačić continued to steal the limelight, earning a move to Real Madrid at the end of the 14–15 season. With Mateo’s departure, Inter signed lots of young attacking talent in the following windows in hopes of replacing his creativity. Like Brozović, signings such as Adem Ljajić, João Mário, and Gabigol failed to make an immediate impact. In fairness, the manager carousel at Inter certainly did not help, as the team’s philosophy was changed with every new arrival.
The First Manager to Successfully Steer the Ship: Luciano Spalletti
After the underwhelming managerial stints of De Boer and Pioli, Inter looked to former Roma manager Luciano Spalletti to bring glory back to Italy’s beloved black-and-blue side. Thankfully, Spalletti’s arrival was an immediate success, unbeaten in its first 16 games the club looked to be in pole position for the Scudetto. Unfortunately for Brozović, the arrival of Fiorentina duo Matías Vecino and Borja Valero left the Croatian far behind in the pecking order. With the team finally seeing success, Marcelo’s time on the pitch consisted of short cameos and sporadic starts. As the January transfer window arrived, the Nerazzurri looked set to offload some excess talent, and Brozović’s name was at the top of this list. Linked heavily with a move to Sevilla, Nerazzurri fans were ecstatic to finally be rid of what many considered to be a flop transfer. However, Inter Milan is known as Pazza (crazy in Italian) for good reason, and their midseason collapse left Spalletti stranded tactically — desperate for a solution.
The midfield that looked unstoppable at the beginning of the campaign seemed disjointed, unbalanced, and simply off the pace. Dealing with injuries and suspensions, Luciano gave Marcelo one last chance to prove his worth in a massive match against Napoli, just days before his imminent departure. Inter fans were shocked by his inclusion in the starting XI, particularly as he was positioned as a deep-lying midfielder — far different from the attacking midfield position he had occupied for his entire career. By halftime, Marcelo had put in a jaw-dropping performance, as his tireless pressure and fabulous distribution were vital to the team in holding off the Partenopei. At full-time, Brozović earned the man of the match for his incredible performance. From that moment onwards, the Croatian became a mainstay in the Nerazzurri midfield. His dynamic passing allowed the team to seamlessly transition from defense to attack, while his immaculate tackling provided much-needed defensive stability in the middle of the park. Brozović’s performances in the second half of the season were crucial to Inter Milan’s Champions League Qualification, with the team achieving this objective on the final matchday in a nail-biting match against Lazio.
As a result of this monumental turnaround, his performances earned him a starting spot on the Croatian national team for the upcoming World Cup in Russia. As we all know, Croatia’s historic run to the final was nothing short of remarkable, with the Serie A midfielder starting against all the most fierce opposition sides, as he starred in statement wins against the likes of Argentina, Denmark, and England. The following season, Marcelo was able to continue his domestic success and his role at Inter continued to blossom. His majestic block on Luis Suarez’s free kick in the Champions League thriller against Barcelona is a memory that will forever remain in the hearts of the Nerazzurri fanbase and has since earned him the nickname ‘Croco-Brozo’. By the end of the season 18/19, ‘Croco Brozo’ had played the most minutes of any midfielder at the club, as he was a key protagonist in the club's retention of Champions League qualification. However, the summer transfer window threw a huge spanner in the works, as Antonio Conte was hired to replace Luciano Spalletti, in hopes of bringing a much-needed Scudetto back to the city of Milan.
As Managers Come and Go, Brozović Remains a Staple
Nerazzurri supporters had mixed feeling about the former Juventus manager’s arrival. Though his success as a manager was unquestionable, many diehard supporters could not back Conte due to his illustrious history at the Bianconeri. Additionally, many fans were concerned about the imminent tactical shift that his arrival promised. With Brozović blooming under Spalletti’s management, supporters feared that he would return to his mediocre past prior to his reincarnation as a regista. However, Conte’s history of molding successful midfielders such as Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal calmed the fears of many — and rightfully so. Marcelo started the Conte-era right where he left off, as his roaming performances from the regista position drew comparisons to Pirlo’s role at Conte’s historic Juventus side. With new arrivals, Nicolò Barella and Stefano Sensi making an instant impact alongside Brozović, Inter’s dominant midfield led them to a 2nd place finish alongside a largely successful Europa League campaign, with the Italian side falling short at the final hurdle to the side that had vied for Marcelo’s signature just two years prior, Sevilla. However, this heartbreak could not shatter Conte’s winning mentality, as the following season Inter steamrolled the league and won their 19th Scudetto. Brozović was fundamental to the team’s glory, as he was amongst the league’s leaders in tackles, distance covered, and completed passes. Brozović, who was at one point in time booed off the pitch at San Siro, was now a Serie A champion.
He once again played a key role in Croatia’s international success, starting every 3 of 4 matches in their Euros campaign. Though Antonio Conte and Inter Milan went their separate ways in the Summer of 2021, the Nerazzurri were quick to replace Conte with Simone Inzaghi. Inzaghi’s tactical approach has proven very similar to Conte’s, allowing the team to seamlessly transition into the new season. With the key departures of Lukaku, Hakimi, and Eriksen, many expected Inter to struggle. However, largely in part due to the consistent performances of Marcelo Brozović, the team is in contention for their 20th Scudetto with four matches to go — a feat that seemed impossible at the start of the season. The Croatian has been the glue that has held the team together and has deservedly been handed a new contract. Now the third-longest tenured player at the club, the Croatian looks set to take the armband from Samir Handanovic next season. Though his choice in tattoos is certainly questionable, the sheer importance of the Croatian to the Nerazzurri is undeniable. As the nail-biting Serie A campaign comes to an end, Nerazzurri supporters hope that their star midfielder can carry the team to the much-allured second star.
