Ivan Perišić had a good week, scoring two goals in extra time to win Inter Milan the Coppa Italia against Juventus. The 33-year-old Croatian is available on a free transfer in the summer. Inter Milan are trying to tie him down to a new contract, but another club can now come in for him.
Several players in their 30s are defying the odds and continuing to dominate the game. He seems to be one of those players. Inter bought Robin Gosens last summer but he has been kept on the bench this season. Below we look at what he can offer as a left wingback defensively and offensively.
Perišić Adequate Defensively
Perišić predominantly operates on the left-hand side of the pitch as a wing-back for Inter Milan. The Croatian is a natural winger, but he has found a new lease of life, first under Antonio Conte and more recently under Simone Inzaghi. The wing-back operates as a full-back when the team does not have possession.
Defensively, he is adequate. He does not stand out in pressures, tackles, or blocks. Firstly, that can be a consequence of how Inzaghi's Inter-Milan functions as a team. The more possession the team has, the less the defenders have to do defensively. Secondly, he is a winger, adequate defensive statistics are the best you can get out of him.
He does have some positive defensive traits. He ranks well in interceptions and dominates aerially. When a wing-back plays, most teams have a centre-back that can handle the deficiencies of someone like him. At Inter, that defender would be Alessandro Bastoni, who covers for Perišić in tight situations. It is offensively where the Croat thrives.
Perišić Lethal With The Ball
Perišić is lethal in the opposition half. He has seven goals and five assists this season in Serie A. He ranks in the highest percentile for expected goals, assists, and shot-creating actions. He is left-footed but can use the right foot, which allows him to cut inside at times. Players like Edin Džeko and Lautaro Martinez have thrived from his service this season.
His short and medium range passing is average at best. He ranks in the highest percentile for progressive carries and progressive passes. Progressive carries is the metric that measures how far a player progresses with the ball while dribbling. Progressive passes measures the same metric but takes passing into account. Perišić is also a danger in the opposition penalty box.
He is agile for a 33-year-old and has the pace to cover the ground on the left-hand side. His heat map shows him covering the whole flank. He tends to dribble past the opposition full-back to get a pass in or drive to the byline to cut back for the striker. It would be interesting to see how he fares in a possession-based team similar to Joao Cancelo.
Perišić has been crucial to Inter-Milan over the last two seasons. He won the Scudetto under Antonio Conte last season, and they are again in the title race this season. What he lacks defensively, he makes up for in effort. Despite his age, he completed 120 minutes against Juventus at the weekend in a taxing position. A versatile player, he will be a bargain buy for any team that goes in for him.