Former Inter central midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic has reflected on how he came to join Inter and has revealed that Inter’s offer was not the only one he had at the time.
“I had done well with Stuttgart, so Inter called me because they needed a midfielder and I said ‘yes’. I wanted to go back to Italy. I had two or three other proposals, but Inter was a great opportunity for me,” he explained in an interview with Italian news outlet Il Posticipo.
He then spoke on how difficult it was during his spell with Inter which lasted between 2013 and 2015.
“It was a bit difficult because so many players came and went, there were also many managerial changes. With 30 strong players in the squad it was not easy to play for Inter.
“If you missed a game, there was then someone else in your place. It was a great experience, I stayed in Milan for almost three years. It was great to play with Zanetti, Cambiasso, Milito, Samuel, Stankovic, it was a golden generation.”
Next the former Serbian national team player was asked whether he believes that he arrived at Inter at the wrong time with him arriving in what was a real transition period for the Nerazzurri.
“Yes and I’m sorry for that. We also played in Europe in those years, but we could and should have done better. There were important players, but with many problems but that’s okay. The past cannot be changed and I always look back with pleasure on everything I’ve done in football.”
He was then asked about what he made of each of the managers he worked under during his time with Inter, Andrea Stramaccioni, Walter Mazzarri and Robeeto Mancini.
“It was Stramaccioni who brought me to Inter. You could see he was young, there was a lot of pressure on him, but he was a good person and an excellent coach.
“Mazzarri was a tough guy, very strong tactically, he had come from Napoli and Inter was a good leap for him too.
“Mancini is a great coach and what he’s doing with Italy confirms it. He and Prandelli are great coaches, I congratulate him.”
He was then asked how he and his teammates experienced the transition in ownership from Massimo Moratti to Erick Thohir in the 2013/14 season.
“We were footballers and we had to think about only taking to the field. At that moment I didn’t give weight to everything that was happening around me. I accepted that change. I was only focused on the pitch like my teammates.”
He was then asked what he thought of Inter’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League and from European football entirely.
“I’m very sad. Inter have a very strong team and had the obligation to at least get past the group stage in the Champions League.
“I’m sorry, I follow them with affection and it was bad to see them go out like this. Now we need to focus on the championship.
“Big investments were made, like Vidal, in attack there are Lukaku and Martinez, then Conte is a strong coach. Inter have a squad and must bring home at least one trophy. If they win nothing then the season will surely be bad.”
