Upon completing his big-money transfer to Internazionale, Hernanes has revealed his ambition to return the glory days to the club.
The Brazilian first pitched up in Italy when he joined Lazio in the summer of 2010, and he enjoyed his time in the capital with 33 goals in 117 Serie A appearances. He also helped Il Biancocelesti to Coppa Italia glory last season, when the playmaker featured in their narrow 1-0 win over city rivals Roma in the final on May 26.
Regarded as one of the best midfield talents in the country, Hernanes has often been linked with a transfer in recent times, with a host of clubs at home and abroad said to be interested in signing him. And despite always maintaining he is happy at Lazio, he bid them a tearful goodbye when he clinched a move to Inter on deadline day.
The Nerazzurri have paid a reported fee of €17million for the Brazil international, who has signed a contract which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2018. By this time, he hopes to have made enough of a contribution to return the club to its former glories as the best team in Italy and also one of the top sides in Europe.
“I am very happy to be here and to be part of an important club like Inter,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “I am very happy, I repeat, and I hope for the best for all of us in this new adventure. It is a challenge I am ready to face. The dream is to do well. Inter have already won it all, and I hope to take this team back to that level.”
Inter last won the Scudetto in 2010 when, under Jose Mourinho, they also won the UEFA Champions League and Coppa Italia. They are currently fifth in Serie A, yet some 23 points behind leaders and reigning champions Juventus, who they face tomorrow, and they are 11 points adrift of Napoli who occupy the final UEFA Champions League spot.
