Antonio Conte wants Inter to sell Mauro Icardi because the forward is too selfish, the Nerazzuri’s former striker Aldo Serena argued today.
Icardi and Radja Nainggolan are both surplus to requirements under Conte and the club are waiting for buyers to come forward.
Serena told FcInter1908.it there were differing reasons behind the players’ likely departures, suggesting a new theory for why Conte had discarded Nainggolan.
“Conte wants players who will support his project and do everything to put the team first,” Serena said.
“Icardi thinks too much about ‘I’ and not enough about ‘we’, whereas Nainggolan has been punished more for his lifestyle away from the pitch.
“I think Conte’s decision to reject Nainggolan might have something to do with the idea of signing Arturo Vidal, though.
“If the Chilean didn’t arrive I’d give Radja a chance, but it looks like the club are heading in another direction. They’ve decided they needed to make a clean break from the past, even if it means losing some money on the transfer market.”
Serena admitted he would have preferred Inter to evaluate Nainggolan’s appeal on the market before making it clear they didn’t want him.
The former Italy international also had words of advice for Juventus, though, arguing they had no need to sign a player like Icardi up front.
“Icardi is one of the best in the world inside the box but he is lacking when it comes to bringing others into play,” he explained.
“Cristiano Ronaldo has always liked playing with a centre-forward who can link play and I don’t think Mauro can do that.”
Serena also argued Inter would have a well-balanced attacking trio if Conte signed Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku to join Lautaro Martinez.
“You’d have one older player who is still very good, one ambitious youngster who fits Conte’s style of play and Lukaku, who is very strong athletically and good at bringing teammates into play.”
