In an interview with Italian news outlet PassioneInter.com, legendary Inter striker Alessandro Altobelli has spoken on a range of Inter related topics ahead of the upcoming Summer transfer window.
He began the interview by focusing heavily on current Inter striker Lautaro Martinez, who is continuously being linked with a Summer transfer window switch to La Liga outfit Barcelona.
“Lautaro Martinez is an excellent player. He is young, he can still grow and give a lot. If I were in his shoes I would still spend a few more years at Inter, because he can always go to other big clubs in the future,” he began the interview.
“Inter can do very little as he has a release clause in his contract and if Barcelona want him then they have the money to do so.
“Inter should keep him but he is not the only one on the team. There are many other strong players. In my opinion it is not a question of money for Lautaro, but a matter of winning. Playing with Messi is something everyone would like to do.”
“I think if he went to Barcelona then Inter would lose out in any case. He is one of the best forwards who is capable of playing as a second striker too. He has all the qualities to get better.”
He then went on to reiterate that what he would do if he were in the highly rated 22-year-old’s shoes at the moment.
“I am sure that Marotta and Inter will do everything to try to make him stay, also because since Suning has the opportunity to sign anyone, Inter is a very wealthy club.
“If I were Lautaro I would try to win with Inter and then think of other things. The fans would still like him at the Meazza because he is a footballer who makes you fall in love, he always gives everything and is beautiful to look at.
“Inter and Barcelona are not on the same level, but he is young and therefore he can still wait before moving, in my opinion.”
Altobelli then went on to discuss Mauro Icardi, Ivan Perisic and Radja Nainggolan, all of whom were shipped out on loan this past Summer after being deemed out of the club’s project for various reasons.
“They are strong players. We saw what Perisic did with the Croatian national team, what Icardi did with PSG and Nainggolan with Cagliari.
“I would keep them but there is Antonio Conte who made the choice to do without them and replace them when he arrived.
“Inter have three players who they can make money from because they are good. If nobody wants to buy them then I would seriously thing about the idea of reintegrating them into the team.”
Altobelli, who is Inter’s second top highest goalscorer of all time, then went on to discuss Brescia midfielder Sandro Tonali, who has been linked with a whole array of clubs including both Inter and Juventus.
“He is an excellent player even though he is young. When you watch him play he looks like a veteran because he is an expert and never makes a mistake. He is ready and is a strong player who could play for all the big teams, even Real Madrid and Barcelona.
“Could he play with Brozovic? They both play in front of the defence but Tonali is young and has his whole career ahead of him so maybe he could grow in another role. I would be very happy to see him at Inter.”
