It’s not that long ago that Andrea Ranocchia was being talked up as one of the great defensive talents of his generation.
Things have not panned out as planned for the Italian, however, and he has barely featured for Internazionale this season under either Frank de Boer or Stefano Pioli.
Still, few could have expected Javier Zanetti’s successor as club captain to wind up playing his football in the 2017 UK City of Culture, yet here we are.
📑 | We are delighted to announce the loan signing of Andrea Ranocchia from @Inter_en #WelcomeAndrea pic.twitter.com/mMJ24CkInE
— Hull City (@HullCity) January 31, 2017
Ranocchia, who joined Inter from Genoa for a fee that eventually reached €19m (£16.4m), has 21 international caps for Italy and was a member of the preliminary squad ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
His move to Hull is only a temporary one, until the end of the current season, but he could go straight into the first team for tomorrow’s match away at Manchester United.
Considering Ranocchia’s past status, and the fact that even Hull fans would admit things are far from rosy at the KCOM Stadium, the move has come as a surprise to many.
How the fuck did hull get ranocchia 🤔#DeadlineDay what a signing
— Warren C (@wcurtin67) January 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheSkax/status/826390944194973696
How are Hull signing Ranocchia?!
— George (@g__henderson) January 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/Thuto_xBox_LFC/status/826390891044753408
Ranocchia to Hull from Inter how? #transferdeadlineday
— Gavin Montana (@GavinMontana) January 31, 2017
Well, a surprise to everyone except Inter fans. And that might well be more telling than anything else.
He's the worst of the worst, seriously, you'll see. I am truly sorry for you guys
— BillieJoe (@billie_caos) January 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/Vitt_DeSimone/status/826391304473047040
Hull are currently 19th in the Premier League but just two points from safety, and Ranocchia is their sixth January signing.
Omar Elabdellaoui, Lazar Marković and Oumar Niasse have also joined on loan, while Evandro has made a permanent move to the club and they have exercised a purchase option on August loanee Markus Henriksen.
WATCH: Liverpool BOTTLED the title race 🤬 | Who will win the Premier League?
