According to further revelations by the media outlet "The Whole Market", as early as last season when Ranocchia was playing for Bari, Leonardo had a high opinion of him and recommended him to the upper management of Milan. In Leonardo's eyes, Ranocchia is the type of player who plays with his head, has excellent aerial defensive skills, and isn't slow on his feet either. With some nurturing, he would definitely be a moldable talent. During Leonardo's first training session, he specifically gave Ranocchia a detailed explanation of tactics and techniques, which clearly shows the importance of this Italian defender for Inter Milan in the future.
In fact, as early as when Leonardo was negotiating the specific terms of his contract with Inter Milan, the Brazilian had mentioned Ranocchia's name, and subsequently Moratti approved this request. The "Milan Sports Daily" referred to Ranocchia as the Christmas gift that Moratti prepared for Leonardo. Looking at Inter Milan's defense, with Samuel being out for the season, there indeed is a need for fresh blood, and Ranocchia is clearly the most suitable choice.
On December 29th at the Appiano Training Base, newly appointed Leonardo stole all the media's focus, but in reality, this was also new signing Ranocchia's first training session with Inter Milan. During the training, this tall and somewhat inexperienced young man might not have stood out too much, but his potential and performance were still unanimously recognized. During the defensive drills, Leonardo even stopped momentarily to explain tactics to Ranocchia, showing the weight of this new signing in Leonardo's mind.
Moreover, according to the "Milan Sports Daily's" prediction, if Ranocchia can perform steadily in the upcoming week of training, he will be directly promoted to the starting lineup, representing Inter Milan in Serie A matches, and may even make his Champions League debut. Even Materazzi was highly impressed with this new signing: "He looks physically fit and has a very good awareness."
According to "Sky Sports," Leonardo's selection of Ranocchia could be seen as a signal. In the second half of the season, Ranocchia could potentially replace veteran Cordoba and secure a starting position, partnering with Brazil's national team captain Lucio. For a 22-year-old young defender, this will undoubtedly be a turning point. Inter Milan legend Mazzola is also extremely optimistic about Ranocchia: "In my view, among the younger generation of defenders, Ranocchia is just as good as Bonucci. He absolutely has the ability to find his place in Inter Milan."
Thus, in the second half of the season, Inter Milan's squad will have in the center-back position: Lucio, Ranocchia, Cordoba, Materazzi; under circumstances of excessive injuries, Chivu can also play as a center-back. Such a five-center-back configuration should be able to cope with the dense schedule of the second half of the season. Additionally, another center-back of Inter Milan, Rivas, has been confirmed to leave the team in winter. His destination is likely to be Chievo, Parma, or Brescia.