Ivan Perisic is making Inter’s left wing-back spot his own after changing his mentality, according to an Italian media report today.
As per Gazzetta dello Sport’s print edition, Perisic and Antonio Conte both deserve credit for the Croatian’s upturn in form this month, much like with Christian Eriksen.
Perisic now understands what Conte wants from him on the wing while Conte has given the 32-year-old a second chance, having discarded him as not functional to his ideas when he became Inter’s head coach in 2019.
The former Bayern Munich winger has raised his level and is said to be embracing his new role ‘with a new mindset’, establishing himself as Conte’s first choice on the left-hand side.
Perisic’s turnaround began at the end of last month, Gazzetta’s report explained, when he impressed during Inter’s 4-0 win over Benevento in Serie A.
Since that game, described as a ‘watershed’, he has created 2.1 chances per game (compared to 1.6 before) while his passes per game have risen from 21.4 to 26.4.
Perisic took his final steps in confirming himself as a transformed player in last weekend’s Milan derby win over AC Milan, dominating Davide Calabria in the Nerazzurri’s convincing 3-0 win at San Siro.
A report elsewhere on Tuesday argued Perisic and Eriksen were both like ‘February signings’ for Conte, while Inter legend Beppe Bergomi has claimed the pair have given the Nerazzurri ‘a new dimension’.
