Forget Ibrahimovic, Julio Cesar is Inter’s Real Hero

The headlines were, inevitably, all about Zlatan Ibrahimovic.  His two goals, scored after coming on as a substitute having spent the past two months recovering from an injury, were the ones that gave Inter the league title.  They also made him the obvious centre of attention of a side that had limped across the finishing line but one that could finally celebrate being the Italian champions.

His was a true Roy of Rovers ending to the season but it is impossibly hard to warm to Ibrahimovic who seems as arrogant off the pitch as he gives the impression of being on it.  When things aren’t going his way, he often seems like a petulant little boy who doesn’t want to keep on playing.  Yet he is also a great talent, one whose early season form paved the way for Inter’s sixteenth title just as much as he last day double.

Despite his crucial contribution, however, Ibrahimovic is far from being Inter’s best player this season.  That honour falls to Julio Cesar, their grossly undervalued goalkeeper.

While most of his team-mates’ form has fluctuated throughout the season, Cesar has been immaculately consistent, often keeping them in games where they would have otherwise been buried.  He seems to be the antithesis of the typical Inter player: consistent, likeable and came relatively cheap. 

He is also the exception to the unwritten at Inter rule which dictates that the more famous players have to play ahead of the rest.  Keeping goal before Cesar was Francesco Toldo, a ‘keeper still living off the reputation he had made for himself while playing for Italy at the 2000 European championships.

Inter fans had long since lost their patience with him, blaming his frequent inability to maintain concentration as one of the prime reasons for their failure to win anything.  Yet not even they would have replaced with an unknown keeper.  A Brazilian one to boot.

Indeed, Cesar could have easily been marginalised after a shaky beginning to his Inter career yet they persisted with him – again, untypical Inter behaviour – and they have been well rewarded. Apart from Buffon there is no better goalkeeper in the Serie A – indeed it is debateable whether the Italian number one has been better this season - with his reflexes and agility more than making up for his lack of height.

A tremendous block on Stefano Morrone, left unmarked at a corner, was his main contribution on the final day of the season but it was an incredibly important save: had Parma scored with the game tied at 0-0 and it is doubtful whether Inter would have recovered.  Cesar was there, dependable as ever and ready to do his utmost for his club. 

It has been the same all season long.  Saves don’t make headlines and often neither do goalkeepers.  Ibrahimovic’s impact on the game will remain as part of Inter’s folklore while Cesar’s save was lucky to make it into the game’s television highlights. 

It would be criminal if the same were to apply to their respective contributions over the season.