Cristiano Biraghi will be a hugely important player for Antonio Conte this season after returning to Inter, according to his former academy coach Fulvio Pea.

Pea, who is now in charge of Jiangsu Suning’s youth system, coached the full-back for two seasons while he was playing for the Nerazzurri’s Primavera side.

Biraghi completed a medical with Inter on Wednesday morning and will soon complete a loan move from Fiorentina.

Pea told Tuttosport: “Biraghi has earned the right to be an important player in Italy because he’s always worked very professionally and with attention to detail.

“He’s got better year after year and now he’ll be playing for a very prestigious club like Inter. He’s coming home to be a key player and that isn’t something everyone can manage.”

Pea assured Biraghi would be perfect for Conte’s 3-5-2 system, despite having broken into the Italian national team as a full-back in a four-man defence.

“The three-man defence will help him have a little less responsibility defensively, which is normally the toughest thing for players in his position,” he continued.

“He’s always been strong physically and athletically, but he’s made huge improvements with his left foot recently and also with his defending.

“Inter have high ambitions for this season and I’m pleased Cristiano has been recalled in this particular moment.

“He works brilliantly behind the scenes, in silence, in the hope of earning a place in the starting XI. He managed it while playing for the Primavera so of course he can do it again with the first team.”