Legendary Inter defender Cristian Chivu has sang the praises of Inter centre back Alessandro Bastoni following his continued growth as a player which has enabled him to cement a place in the Inter starting line-up.

Bastoni made his first team breakthrough at Inter last season and has went from strength to strength ever since with him having confirmed himself as one of the best young defenders on the planet at the moment.

“He is a young boy, has many qualities and has the possibility to play in a team where you can grow and increase your self-esteem,” Chivu explained in an interview with Inter’s official club broadcaster Inter TV, yesterday night.

“I like him, I like to see young people who manage every game from a mental point of view. He has shown that he can be up to it from a technical, tactical and mental point of view.”

Chivu was then asked how Inter’s deadly strike force of Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez can be marked.

“Luckily I have never faced them. The manager has been good at making them improve and it is obvious that both still have margins for growth.

“One is better at attacking spaces, the other in one on one situations. It’s not easy, luckily we have this pair of forwards who give us a lot of satisfaction.”

Former Romanian national team player Chivu joined Inter in the Summer of 2007 and spent the next seven years with the club before retiring in 2014.

The 40-year-old, who is currently Inter Under 18’s manager, made 169 appearances for the club, in which he scored three goals and tallied seven assists.