Milan Skriniar deserves praise for the way he has managed to kick-start his career at Inter this season, according to the Nerazzurri’s legendary former defender Ivan Cordoba.

Last season Skriniar experienced great difficulties when it came to adapting to Antonio Conte’s three-man defence, reportedly coming close to leaving the club for Tottenham Hotspur last summer.

No move ended up materialising for the Slovakian but after his start to the season was disrupted by getting COVID-19, the 26-year-old has got himself back on track and is playing like the Skriniar of old.

“Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni are among the top defenders in Europe,” former Colombian international Cordoba explained in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

“But I would like to focus in particular on Milan, he has experienced difficulties but has been able to react and now we find him playing at the highest level.

“I wish to congratulate him for this.”

Cordoba, who was part of Inter’s historic treble-winning team in 2010, also shared his thoughts on Conte’s team as a whole, who sit four points clear at the top of Serie A.

“I see compactness and unity, they stick together and defend as a team which makes the work of the defenders less difficult,” he explained.

“Inter must have increasing belief that they can win the Scudetto, there’s no point hiding at this stage.

“The win in the Milan derby told us a lot, they need to keep going like this.”

Cordoba, who played for Inter for 12 years between 2000 and 2012, also shared his views on the club’s current off-field situation, amid ongoing rumours that Suning could sell up due to financial troubles.

“Certain stories should never make it into the newspapers,” he argued.

“There are many things which should remain secret, and you know why?

“Because the players suffer from hearing certain rumours, which was what happened when Massimo Moratti sold Inter to Erick Thohir and then Thohir to Suning.

“As a fan, I hope that everything can be resolved in the best possible way.

“I want only the best for Inter.”