Radja Nainggolan and Ivan Perisic have recovered their form for Inter and after a moment of disarray, they both got back on track by getting their heads down and working hard, and the results can be seen, especially in the match with Sampdoria, in which the Belgian and the Croatian dragged the team to victory.

The paradox is that they stepped up right when all hope seemed to have been lost, Rome based Corriere dello Sport reports. Nainggolan, who before Christmas, had been suspended for repeatedly turning up late for training, which was added to various wrong attitudes and behaviours. In 2019, however, the worst was yet to come, Nainggolan missed the crucial last penalty against Lazio, delivering the Biancocelesti the Italian Cup semi-final.

Perisic wanted to pack his bags in January after Arsenal tried to entice him with a very generous contract offer, but they did not satisfy Inter’s requests, and perhaps even worse, the Croatian had begun to train without intensity, as if he no longer felt involved with the team.

Now the rest of the season they must continue to work hard to get back on track. Whilst the situation with Icardi develops, in short, now it’s up to Nainggolan and Perisic to step up and lead this Inter side.