Inter’s inability to sign a centre-forward is not the biggest problem Antonio Conte is facing this summer, according to Corriere della Sera’s Mario Sconcerti.
The Nerazzurri are hopeful of bringing both Romelu Lukaku and Edin Dzeko to the club before the new Serie A campaign begins, but neither have arrived yet.
Sconcerti insisted Conte’s most serious issue while he prepares for the 2019-20 season is more general, though.
“Conte doesn’t have his Group at the moment, and that’s his bread and butter” the former Fiorentina director wrote today.
“He doesn’t know what to say to his players because he doesn’t know who to say it to. For a hardliner like him this creates instability.
“It will convince him he’s losing time and lost time is not like a centre-forward on the market. You can’t ever get that back.”
Sconcerti then highlighted the paradox surrounding Inter’s tough negotiations with Roma and Manchester United.
“Conte is without centre-forwards at the moment because of the €8 million gap for Dzeko, not the €85 million United want for Lukaku,” he continued.
“Dzeko has been worth €20 million for two months now and in today’s market that’s almost a futile price.”
He also criticised Inter for their decision to freeze Mauro Icardi out of preseason training, using Juventus’ treatment of Gonzalo Higuain as an example of how they could have protected his value in the market.
“Icardi would need two or three months’ worth of training to be properly ready to play again, having hardly played since February,” he added.
“This situation is a mess which damages everyone: was it really worth reaching this stage?”
