Massimo Moratti and Jose Mourinho must be laughing. In fact, the latter might struggle to manage Inter next season because of it. Having pulled basically (bar a few issues here and there) off the deal of the century this week, Inter are looking strong favourites to walk to the Serie A title for a fifth consecutive triumph.

The deal in question reportedly involves Zlatan Ibrahimovic moving to Barcelona for a fee of €45m, Samuel Eto’o on a permanent transfer and Alexander Hleb on a season-long loan deal. Yes, LiberoFootball were also wondering whether Joan Laporta was feeling well when he agreed to sanction such a preposterous deal in the favour of Inter.

There have been many, many questions surrounding the wisdom of such a deal. After all, Samuel Eto’o is a proven, world class striker and Alexander Hleb is suited to Italian football. In contrast Zlatan Ibrahimovic is widely acknowledged as the most overrated striker in world football. In addition, the huge sum of money added to the players being swapped makes it seem vas if Moratti has bulled off his own ‘Italian Job’.

Guardiola is keen to avoid the sharp demise under the reign of Frank Rikjaard where players were expected to be responsible yet failed to control themselves. Eto’o is a strong character, but is often a disruptive force in the dressing room and Guardiola may be justified in removing such a headstrong character from the dressing room:

“I am convinced that the best thing for Barca is for Eto’o to leave. Could I be mistaken? Maybe so. But I am here to make these decisions. I feel that it is best for the club and the team. It’s a question of feelings.

I am not here to change anyone’s character, but I can decide on which players I want to count on for the season. After what we won, we had to change the dressing room. I took this decision from my experience as a footballer.”

Yet the replacement for such an extravagant sum of money hardly seems worth it. Eto’o epitomised the pressing game employed by Guardiola, where a team work ethic is the most important aspect of his tactics. He provided aggression, endless running and wonderful finishing that added end product to the stylish passing game run by players such as Xavi and Iniesta.

In contrast, Ibrahimovic fails to track or press the defence unlike the outgoing Eto’o. The laidback style of the Swedish hitman does not appear to fit well with Barcelona’s current set-up, with there being no requirement for height or a target man. While Eto’o has scored in both Champions League finals he has appeared in for Barcelona, as well as several other big games, Ibrahimovic has a poor record in the latter stages of the Champions League, and is often anonymous in other big games too.

Prior to Real Madrid’s signing of Kaka and Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic was the highest paid player in Europe, typifying the extent to which he has been overhyped. Sure, Ibrahimovic did score against the small sides (and credit to him for that because all goals count the same), top-scoring with 24 goals last season. But the fact is, despite all the acrobatics and pieces of skill against weak sides, he has failed to deliver when it really matters.

In terms of replacing Eto’o’s attitude with a player that is far more reserved, Barcelona have seemingly failed in this respect too. Ibrahimovic has self-confidence that borders dangerously on arrogance. His technical ability is out of question; after all, this is the man who can do kick-ups with chewing cup! Yet his work ethic, danger to team spirit and effectiveness in the big games has come under scrutiny.

Losing €45m in addition to this represents a huge gamble and trust in Ibrahimovic’s ability. The loan of Alexander Hleb, who, although he was a peripheral member of the squad last season, would do very well in Italy and the deal represents a strengthening of a rival for the European Cup. Under Mourinho, Eto’o would have a manager whose ego significantly exceeds his own.

There would be little problem for Mourinho loves mentally strong players, although Alex Hleb may find it difficult to adapt under the Portuguese tactician’s methods, despite the fact that he is better than fellow wingers Ricardo Quaresma or Mancini. While Juventus have added a Brazilian touch through the tenacious Felipe Melo and the brilliant Diego, through these additions (along with those of Motta, Milito amongst others), Inter should win the title with considerable ease.

Owner Massimo Moratti desperately wants a Champions League title at the club under his ownership and has told Mourinho there are no excuses this time. Italian sides struggle to cope with the pace and intensity of English clubs, but signing players such as Eto’o and Hleb, who are used to such a style, may the step required for Inter to win the European Cup. Joan Laporta said of the prospective transfer:

“It’s a different sort of deal, because it’s based around different financial amounts, which are fairly reasonable and because it also involved the sale and the loan deal of a player that we were working on before this deal.

It’s not an expensive deal. It’s come about from talent and hard work. As a result of a conversation that I had with Eto’o before my meeting with Moratti, we understood that it was time to look for a team for him and 24 hours later the possibility of going to Inter came up. Eto’o will go to a club where they will also treat him with respect.

We have come to an agreement with Inter about the fee and we are waiting for Inter to come to an agreement with Eto’o and us with Ibrahimovic. I talked to Eto’o after the meeting with Moratti that night and then Inter talked with his agent and (Jose) Mourinho talked to Eto’o.”

After personal terms are agreed, this transfer should add prestige to both the waning Serie A and the already star-studded La Liga. Both title races should be spectacular, with the arrival Diego and Eto’o offsetting the departures of Ibrahimovic and Kaka (to some extent at least). Whatever immoral sums Madrid may have paid for Kaka and Ronaldo, this fee for Ibrahimovic paid by Barca (factoring in the valuations of Eto’o (€40m) and Hleb €15m) along with the reported €45m fee) make this most likely the most expensive deal of the summer. Recession? What recession?