Riccardo Ferri sprung to Inter’s defence today after the club’s former president Massimo Moratti criticised their handling of Mauro Icardi.
Moratti claimed the Nerazzurri’s management ‘tied themselves in knots’ after stripping Maurito of the captain’s armband, claiming he was a much better striker than Romelu Lukaku.
Ferri hit back at those claims, though, insisting the club had adopted a coherent strategy throughout the last six months.
“Nobody has ever questioned Icardi’s professionalism but you need other components as well,” he told Il Quotidiano Sportivo.
“Icardi could have distanced himself from his wife and agent after her comments but he never did so.
“I don’t know if the swap deal with Paulo Dybala will happen but you certainly can’t have two players like that staying on the side-lines.
“If Icardi stayed out of the game for that long it would be difficult to rebuild his career.”
Ferri praised Inter’s new signing Romelu Lukaku and said he trusted Antonio Conte to get the most out of the striker.
Lukaku completed a potential €75 move from Manchester United yesterday after weeks of fraught negotiations.
“I have high expectations because Lukaku knows Conte and Conte knows him, which should accelerate his period of acclimatisation,” Ferri added.
“Inter have signed a striker who can play up front on his own and is very difficult to dispossess. He can do very well there because he has the ideal tactical system for him.
“He has similar qualities to Duvan Zapata at Atalanta, but Lukaku is better and has more international experience.
“If Edin Dzeko arrived as well Inter really would complete a very strong attacking line-up, as strong as their options in defence.
“They could fight with anyone on any pitch at that point, including Juventus. You need a lot to go your way to win the Scudetto but they could cause the Bianconeri problems.”
