the Primavera starlets who Stramaccioni may use

in terms of tactics, Stramaccioni favours the use of a trequartista, usually in a 4-3-2-1 system, though he has also been known to employ a slight variation on that formation. As a result, the name currently on everyone's lips is that of Daniel Bessa, whose performance in the NextGen final against Ajax left Moratti purring. Indeed, the Nerazzurri supremo was blown away by the audacity of the no-look pass from Bessa which created the opening goal of the game for Samuele Longo.

Born in 1993, Bessa has quick feet and a touch of genius about him, but anyone envisaging him as your typical lightweight luxury player would be grossly mistaken: Bessa runs, battles and does not switch off when he does not have the ball. This is all thanks to Stramaccioni, who has transformed the Brazilian-born Italian from an ill-disciplined talent into a true gem.

It's difficult to say if he's ready for the first team, but in the continued absence of the 'real' Wesley Sneijder, Bessa deserves a chance - perhaps even alongside the Dutchman in the aforementioned 4-3-2-1 formation.

To revitalise a lifeless and static attack, Stramaccioni could also turn to the stars of the Primavera's frontline, Longo and Marko Livaja, a player who has already had a taste of Serie A during a loan spell at Cesena. However, given the current competition for places up front within the senior squad, it is perhaps unrealistic to expect either forward to force their way into the starting line-up ahead of Giampaolo Pazzini, Diego Milito or Diego Forlan.

However, the three musketeers of the Primavera midfield which conquered Europe have much better first-team prospects. They are, of course, Lorenzo Crisetig, Joseph Alfred Duncan and captain Andrea Romano, with Stramaccioni having included the trio in his first training session with the senior squad earlier this week.

Romano, who plays in the middle of the three, is the quintessential modern midfielder in that he is comfortable both in attack and defence. Duncan is also skilled offensively, but his strength lies in his defensive capabilities. The Ghanaian towered above all and sundry during the NextGen Series and it would be a surprise if he is not soon rubbing shoulders with the likes of Esteban Cambiasso, Dejan Stankovic and Javier Zanetti.

owever, the player most likely to make the breakthrough is Crisetig, a veritable pillar of strength in the Primavera midfield. A true regista, Crisetig has long been considered one of Italian football's most intriguing prospects. After experiencing the atmosphere of the 'true Inter' during the Jose Mourinho era, the 19-year-old made his Nerazzurri debut in last September's Champions League clash with CKSA Moscow in the Russian capital.

He has also been capped three times by the Italy Under-21s, making his first appearance for his country in August of 2010 alongside the likes of Andrea Poli, Ezequiel Scheletto and Fabio Borini. With his impressive physical presence and precise left foot, Crisetig, who is co-owned with Parma, has evoked comparisons with Thiago Motta, the man whose recent departure to Paris Saint-Germain contributed enormously to Inter's collapse over the past two months.

The youngest member of the Primavera side could also soon find himself in the first team. The 17-year-old Ibrahima M'Baye was identified by former Inter coach Mourinho as a player of real promise and is now being integrated into the senior squad. A left-back by trade but also capable of playing in the centre, he is strong, athletic and has great stamina. However, M'Baye still seems a tad raw and inexperienced for a stage as grand as the Giuseppe Meazza.

Primavera goalkeeper Raffaele Di Gennaro is unlikely to find any room for himself in the first-team squad but he warrants a mention. One of the heroes of the NextGen, the Saronno native is physically imposing, has great reactions, a strong personality and is back on the field this season after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Di Gennaro is not yet ready to succeed Julio Cesar in between the sticks but he could certainly do so at some point in the future. Rafa Benitez certainly liked what he saw of the 18-year-old during his time at San Siro, the Spaniard having included him in his Fifa Club World Cup-winning squad.

Addressing the question of youth during his first press conference as Inter coach, Stramaccioni stated: "It's a delicate issue. Our young players have great talent and great prospects, but it will be the club who must now decide how best to handle them."

The suggestion appears to be that there will be no revolution, but perhaps a gradual evolution.

The merits of January signing Fredy Guarin - finally ready to make his Inter debut after arriving at Appiano Gentile from Porto carrying an injury - will be evaluated between now and the end of the season. The Nerazzurri paid an initial €1.5 million for the Colombian, with a view to a permanent transfer in the summer, and he essentially has nine games to convince the club that he is worth €13.5m. If he does not, Crisetig is the leading candidate to take Guarin's place in the first team squad.

Elsewhere, if Stramaccioni does decide to go with Sneijder in tandem with Bessa, it would leave Pazzini competing for the lone striking role with Milito. However, a 4-3-2-1 formation would also give Longo a sniff of first-team action given his undoubted suitability to the role.

Admittedly, there is so much uncertainty surrounding Inter at the moment that it is impossible to predict what will happen over the final two months of the season. However, this undeniably feels like the ideal opportunity for the Nerazzurri to give youth a chance. At this stage, neither the club, the coach, nor the players have anything to lose.


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