Inter legend Beppe Bergomi discussed the ongoing Coronavirus emergency, multiple Inter transfer targets and the future of Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez in an interview in today’s print edition of the Italian magazine Gq Italia.
First, he discussed if Serie A would resume or be called off like other sports have been.
“Football is different from basketball, for example, which has playoffs. I think we should continue, I still don’t know what will happen. I spoke to Dr. Volpi who told me how careful we have to be, we have to go with lead feet especially because the problem is the rebound virus. I’m to resume the league, with all the security in the world if there are the right measures, but without going too far because it would compromise the following season. June, mid-July should be finished, to go too far would be a problem. We need to protect all the teams by completing the season but I think we need to make a distinction between Serie A and Serie B and Serie C because they are different categories. In B and C there are some teams that have the promotion practically in their pockets and it’s right that they can finish, in Serie A the situation is still all in question and uncertain, for the Scudetto and for the other positions.”
The 56-year-old Italian then discussed Inter midfielder Christian Eriksen, who joined the club from Tottenham in the January transfer window for €20 million.
“I was one of the first to question him and I got a lot of criticism. In the Cup game against Fiorentina, I heard people complaining that the man didn’t jump or that he wasn’t fast. Eriksen is a player different from the midfielders who Inter have, with good feet, who protects the ball well, who finds the goal. But he is not the kind of player who goes on the ball recovery with intensity, so from the beginning I wondered in a 3-5-2 where Conte would place him. I was partially right because Antonio has never played him as a starter in certain important games. He’s a player who has a lot of potential and quality but he needs to be put in a position to get them out and in this system of play I think that’s difficult. Conte should change something, an evolution of the module and the game system. English football is different, there was more freedom to space, our games don’t unlock easily. I knew he could go against this kind of problem, I would wait for him. He has to adapt to our football and we have to put him in a position to bring out his qualities.”
Bergomi spoke about Inter coach Antonio Conte and what is missing in the fight for the league title.
“Conte, of course he’s convincing me. You see his teams from the beginning. Clear ideas and simple concepts all the way to the end. This team works well for inside players looking for the strikers but the problem remains the outside players. Inter did better on the outside than inside because they are waiting. There you have to make a difference. The outsiders are doing well but you have to improve there by putting people who jump your man because when the teams press you suffer. Of course, Conte is convincing me, he’s doing very well without taking anything away from Spalletti who has achieved his goal for two years, but he still has to improve these little things.”
He then discussed which wing backs the Nerazzurri should look to sign, as well as highlighting players that would have suited Inter.
“Finding wingers who are good at passing and dribbling is hard. Today one of the best dribblers is Boga, who starts on the wing. But there may be an evolution of the game, I’d keep an eye on him. The Inter in January wanted Alonso of Chelsea, I like him very much, he guarantees you goals and has a good foot but this is a job that the great observers have Inter do. Of course, it wasn’t Lazaro, it was more Lazzari who went to Lazio. You have to find people who do that role well.”
Bergomi also discussed another transfer target of Inter, Fiorentina talisman Federico Chiesa.
“Chiesa, in what role? This year we saw him with Montella who put him in a 3-5-2 alongside Ribery, same thing Iachini. You can’t make him do the whole thing because you’re distorting him. He’s a striker, for me he’s on the national team, using his characteristics well because Mancini knows how to pull out all the characteristics well. Of course, I like Chiesa, he would be fine, but if I had to think about the 3-5-2 of Inter, I wouldn’t know where to put him. I’d take him if they took Lautaro away from me, I hope not because I like him so much. Players must always understand the context in which they should be placed, it’s not enough just to like them.”
Finally, Bergomi spoke about Inter striker Lautaro Martinez and whether he will join Barcelona in the summer or not.
“It’s hard to say. As an ex-Inter player I hope he can stay because when he was playing with Icardi he was struggling, now with Lukaku he’s found the right partner who opens up the space for him. Lukaku is a player who has physicality and plays for the team, he has that bit of healthy selfishness as a forward but he puts himself at his partner’s disposal and has exalted Lautaro’s qualities, to split this couple would be sad.”
