Inter boast one of the best strike partnerships in Europe with Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez, according to the Nerazzurri’s legendary former striker Alessandro Altobelli.
Lukaku and Lautaro have continued their good form together from last season, having combined for no less than 27 goals between them so far this season across all competitions.
Antonio Conte has almost no opportunity to rest them given the lack of alternatives but so far the pair have continued to deliver on a weekly basis.
“Without taking anything away from Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata at Juventus, or Zlatan Ibrahimovic at AC Milan, the best pair of strikers in Italy belong to Inter,” Altobelli remarked in an interview with Italian daily newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, which appeared in Thursday’s print edition.
“Lukaku and Lautaro are the best you could wish for as a team with great ambitions.
“They are complementary forwards, deadly in the penalty box but also very good at making themselves available to the team, both by participating in the offensive build-up and by sacrificing themselves out of possession.
“And then they are very selfless, they are always looking for each other, they play for each other.
“This sends a strong message to the rest of the team as well.
“Lu-La today is the top in Italy and it’s also among the best strike partnerships in Europe.”
Altobelli was then asked about the fact that despite all the goals they bring, Inter no longer seem so dependent on the Belgian and Argentine internationals, with Nicolo Barella and Arturo Vidal scoring in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Juventus in the Derby d’Italia.
“This is one more thing that should push Inter to believe they can win the Scudetto,” he argued.
“Two great strikers alone are not enough because they can score 50 goals as a pair in the league, but for the Scudetto you need at least 80-90.
“This year everyone is making a great contribution.
“After all, Inter have only one way to improve last season and that is to win and this year the title will be up for grabs until the end.”
The former Italy international, who scored at a prolific rate during his 11 year stint with Inter between 1977 and 1988, then touched upon AC Milan, who lead the way in Serie A, before returning to sing the praises of some other Nerazzurri players.
“AC Milan are having an extraordinary season and have a devastating player in Ibrahimovic.
“Inter can respond with Lukaku, who is a force of nature; when he runs with his speed and power he becomes impossible to stop.
“And then have you seen Barella? Today he is among the best in the world in his role.
“If Vidal starts performing consistently, Conte’s team will be in the driving seat for the Scudetto.”
Altobelli made 465 appearances across all competitions for the club and managed to score 209 goals, which is one of the highest goal tallies that someone has ever reached for Inter.
