Felipe Melo and Frank de Boer will never become friends. The former Internazionale midfielder played in Italy under the former head coach of the Dutch national team. It was a short spell, but the Brazilian was left with a bad impression of his manager.
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In the end, Frank de Boer’s adventure at Inter Milan lasted just 85 days. Hired in the summer of 2016 to bring stability and identity to the Nerazzurri after Roberto Mancini’s sudden departure, the Dutchman never managed to connect with his squad. His tenure quickly unraveled into a disastrous spell that has since been remembered more for controversy and confusion than for results on the pitch.
Former Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo, who played under De Boer at Inter, has now shed more light on that chaotic period in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. Melo, known for his outspoken nature, did not mince words when asked about his experience with the coach. “He really didn’t understand anything about football,” Melo said bluntly. “He is incompetent as a coach.”
Melo illustrated his point with a striking anecdote involving fellow Brazilian Gabriel Barbosa, the striker who arrived in Milan from Santos with high expectations and the famous nickname “Gabigol.” Instead of encouraging the young forward, De Boer mocked him, calling him “Gabi-ex-gol” a cruel twist that suggested he was no longer capable of scoring. For Melo, this was a sign of poor leadership and a lack of understanding of how to handle players psychologically. “That was his idea of humor,” Melo explained, “but it only created resentment and confusion in the dressing room.”
The Brazilian veteran went on to describe a locker room environment that spiraled out of control under De Boer’s brief tenure. Language barriers were a major issue, with the Dutchman unable to communicate effectively in Italian. “He didn’t speak Italian and caused unrest in the dressing room,” Melo recalled. “In football, especially in Italy, communication is everything. If you can’t explain your ideas, the team won’t follow you.”
Indeed, De Boer’s time at Inter was marked by tactical inconsistency and disappointing results. In 14 games across all competitions, the team won just five and suffered seven defeats. Inter’s performances in Serie A were erratic, and the club also endured a humiliating group-stage exit from the Europa League, losing to sides such as Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Sparta Prague.
For Melo, these results reflected deeper issues with De Boer’s management. “He caused disasters everywhere,” the former midfielder said. “It was three months of chaos. Luckily, it ended after that.” The Brazilian’s remarks echo what many observers already suspected: that De Boer’s time in Milan was doomed from the start, with little support from players, staff, or the board.
De Boer had arrived at Inter with a reputation as a promising coach after winning four consecutive Eredivisie titles with Ajax. However, his philosophy clashed with the realities of Italian football, and his inability to adapt quickly cost him dearly. Within less than three months, Inter decided to part ways, replacing him with Stefano Pioli in an attempt to salvage the season.
The fallout from De Boer’s short spell went beyond Inter as well. His reputation as a coach suffered badly. Later stints at Crystal Palace, Atlanta United, and with the Netherlands national team were also plagued by criticism, particularly for what many described as his rigid tactical ideas and poor man-management. Crystal Palace dismissed him after only four league games, while his time with the Dutch national team ended following a disappointing Euro 2020 campaign.
For Felipe Melo, now retired and reflecting on his career, the Inter episode remains a cautionary tale about how quickly things can unravel when a coach fails to connect with his squad. “A coach has to lead, to inspire, to bring players together,” he said. “At Inter, De Boer did the opposite. He divided the team, failed to communicate, and created confusion. That’s why it didn’t work.”
Today, Inter fans look back on those months as one of the darkest chapters of a turbulent period in the club’s history. But for Melo, the memory is particularly bitter a reminder of a coach whose methods, in his view, were never suited to the top level.
Updated: 03:28, 11 Sep 2025
