Legendary Inter striker Roberto Boninsegna has shared his appreciation for current Inter striker Romelu Lukaku and shared his wish to see Lukaku better his scoring record with the Nerazzurri.
“For us Inter fans it is a joy to watch him because he always keeps the team up and last night in times of difficulty he did exceptional things. He needs to be supported, but with Lautaro he forms a high level partnership,” he explained in an interview with Italian news outlet TuttoMercatoWeb.
Next former Italian national team striker Boninsegna was asked about where Lukaku ranks in the history of Inter and wished the Belgian national team forward well.
“I will leave that to the others to say, but I hope he continues like this. In seven season I scored 172 goals in all competitions, I wish for him to beat me.
“In terms of the Inter scoring percentages, I am second only to Meazza, even though Altobelli has scored more goals than me. I wish Lukaku all the best, Inter were good at making the right purchase, he is also a good boy and I repeat he took the team on his shoulders in difficult moments.”
Boninsegna was then asked whether Lukaku is a player who is unstoppable for defenders: “Yes, because either you anticipate him but it’s hard or if he gets the ball he takes you wherever he wants. The only way is to double team him but he has impressive physical strength.”
He proceeded to speak further on what Lukaku is like as a player by adding: “Physically, he is like Vieri but he has other characteristics such as speed and the ability to cover the ball. He is part of the great array of Nerazzurri super strikers from Ronaldo to Milito.”
He then spoke on Inter’s situation in the UEFA Champions League following their 3-2 win away to Borussia Monchengladbach: “Yesterday went well, we can have hopes, the victory was decisive.”
In conclusion Boninsegna, who was with Inter between 1969 and 1976, recalled the infamous meeting between Inter and Borussia Monchengladbach in 1971, in which he was hit by a Coca Cola can thrown by someone in the crowd.
“They made us play on a field without protection. I had scored the equaliser to make it 1-1 and then when we lost 2-1 I went to get the ball back for a thrown in and 10-12 cans were thrown at me. Their vice-president claims it was empty? I don’t know, he’ll have drunk it…”