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Podolski heads to Milan

Jefferson ChaseJanuary 3, 2015

German national Lukas Podolski is heading from Arsenal to Inter Milan on a loan until the end of the season. It's a chance for the forward, once one of Germany's brightest stars, to show he can still cut it.

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Lukas Podolski Ankunft in Mailand
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

The news of Podolski's move came as little of a surprise despite Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger dismissing the idea as a "joke" during the week. The gregarious forward had struggled to command playing time at the North London club, despite the Gunners being hit by a raft of injuries. His last action was as a late substitute on December 13.

Podolski arrived in Milan on Friday evening and was sent to a medical examination on Saturday. Presuming he passes it, he will stay on in Italy until the summer. It's rumored that Inter has secured an 6.5-million-euro option to purchase him.

With that, the 29-year-old Podolski's Arsenal chapter would appear to have come to a close. He scored 19 goals in 60 league matches for the Gunners. But he hadn't scored in the premiership this season, although he did pick up three goals in the Champions League.

Podolski's career is at a crossroads. Once regarded as a top German talent, he has now struggled to establish himself at two big clubs. Inter may be his final chance to fulfill all of his enormous potential.

An extraordinary left foot

Bayern München - Arsenal London
Podolski didn't cut it in either Munich or LondonImage: Getty Images

Podolski was born in Poland but grew up in Cologne, and he burst upon the scene for the local first-division club, scoring ten goals in nineteen games at the tender age of eighteen and earning himself the nickname "Price Poldi." His trademark was his tremendously powerful left-footed shots.

In 2006, Cologne were relegated, and Podolski moved to Bayern Munich, where his haul of fifteen goals in 71 games was not good enough to establish him in the starting eleven. He returned to Cologne in 2009 for three seasons, where his fortunes revived, but left for London when the Billy Goats once again went down to division two.

At Arsenal Podolski, an avid user of social media, quickly adopted club culture and became a fan favorite. Yet while his left-footed rockets remain potentially lethal weapons, his game revealed obvious deficiencies. Too small to play the back-to-the-goal role of a traditional center forward, his natural position is on left wing. But his lack of defensive skills, and perhaps determination, make him something of a liability when his team loses the ball.

That is most likely what convinced Wenger that he's surplus to requirements. Inter coach Robert Mancini, on the other hand, has spoken highly of Podolski.

"German players in Italy have always performed well," Mancini told DPA news agency. " I know Lukas very well. He can play various positions and has a lot of experience."

Podolski, always one to cater to the crowd, had himself photographed with an Inter scarf and didn't neglect to utter a hearty "Forza Inter." But his main reason for moving to Italy may be the German national team.

A controversial veteran

German palyeer hoist World Cup trophy-
Podolski was just one of the crowd in BrazilImage: picture-alliance/dpa

Podolski is third on the all-time list of most caps for the German national team with 121 appearances, more than Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger. With 47 strikes, he's also joint-third on the all-time goal-scorer's list behind Miroslav Klose and Gerd Müller.

But despite that record, Podolski has always been something of a controversial figure, with many Germany fans accusing first Jürgen Klinsmann, then Joachim Löw of favoritism and calling for him to be replaced. To call Podolski's role in Germany's 2014 World Cup triumph marginal would be an overstatement. He started only one game, in which he was substituted out a half-time, and appeared as a late substitute in another.

Despite his vast experience, he's never been in the frame for the captaincy, and with Löw retooling the Nationalelf, Podolski has to give his coach compelling reasons to select him or risk being dropped alltogether in favor of one of Germany's many talented young players.

But despite the club's venerable name, Inter is no longer a top address in European football. The 2010 Champions League winners have drifted down to middle of the table in Italy's Serie A and spent the Christmas break in eleventh in the table. The news magazine "Der Spiegel" reported the news of Podolski's prospective move under the headline "Welcome to Mediocrity."

Podolski introduced himself in Italy with the usual platitudes about wanting to help his new club get back to the Champions League. But that's probably the standard against which he'll be measured. if he could lead a club that has seen better days back to Europe's elite, he'd show that he himself is not past his sell-by date.