Inter cannot claim to have had a successful season if they miss out on the Serie A title, according to the Nerazzurri’s legendary former goalkeeper Walter Zenga.

Antonio Conte’s side are second in the table behind AC Milan with one game left before the season reaches the halfway point, but many in Italy’s media believe they remain the favourites to win the Scudetto.

Inter’s surprise elimination from Europe before Christmas has left them with only the league and the Coppa Italia to play for.

“The performance in the league so far is in line with expectations, although I am sorry that they finished in fourth place in their Champions League group,” Zenga told Gazzetta dello Sport, in an interview which appeared in Thursday’s print edition.

“There is also the Coppa Italia to win, there is the possibility of a great finish and the lack of European commitments can make a positive difference.

“The season would be an insufficient one without winning Serie A but anyway, Inter are the favourites.”

Zenga, who is widely regarded as one of Inter’s greatest ever goalkeepers, then expressed his thoughts on Inter duo Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella, both of whom have starred so far this campaign.

“I wanted to sign Bastoni when I was at Crotone, unfortunately nothing came of it.

“As Barella, well, what can I say?

“I spoke about him for the first time with Tommaso Giulini in 2014, when he was in the Primavera at Cagliari.

“The president, I remember very well, said to me: ‘Walter, this boy is really good.’

“I would say that time has proved him right.

“A round of applause for Conte, who’s managed to improve both of them.”

In conclusion, the former Italy shot-stopper, who spent 16 years with Inter and won the league title under Giovanni Trapattoni in 1989, was asked whether the current corporate situation at Inter worries or intrigues him, as rumours over a potential sale of the club continue to circulate.

“It is impossible to answer as only a few know the real details,” he argued.

“I will limit myself to saying that these are very complicated times for everyone, including Inter, a club that has 60-65,000 season ticket holders.

“The economic losses have been enormous, it may be that the owners make certain evaluations.

“Having said that, I seriously hope that we can turn the page.”