Inter have a lot more to them than just Romelu Lukaku’s goals, according to the Nerazzurri’s legendary former midfielder Nicola Berti.
Antonio Conte’s side have been enjoying a series of incredible performances from the Belgian this season, who found the net once again in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Genoa.
But Berti wished to point out that the Nerazzurri’s run to the top of the Serie A table had been about more than just Lukaku’s goals.
Speaking during ‘Tiki Taka’ on Sport Mediaset last night, Berti said: “Let’s be clear, Inter aren’t just Lukaku.
“They have a great defence and also Lautaro Martinez is having an extraordinary season.”
Berti also praised Conte for reviving two players whose careers at Inter seemed dead, namely Christian Eriksen and Ivan Perisic.
Eriksen seemed certain to leave in January after struggling for game time during the first half of the season, but since the transfer window shut he has forced his way into the side.
Perisic also looked unlikely to have a long-term future under Conte, but he too has nailed down a position at left wing-back, with both players impressing again at the weekend.
“Eriksen seemed destined to return to the Premier League, while Perisic had been relegated to the bench,” Berti recalled.
“Conte has revived both of them, for which he deserves great credit.
“Antonio has got everything right in Inter’s last three games (against Lazio, AC Milan and Genoa).”
Berti also offered a surprising opinion on who he believed could be Inter’s most serious title rivals.
“The only team who can cause them trouble, aside from AC Milan, is Atalanta,” he argued, ignoring Juventus.
On the subject of Conte’s past at Juve, Berti added: “It could have been irritating at the start, but now his results are convincing everyone.”
Inter will aim to preserve their four-point lead over AC Milan at the top of Serie A when they visit Parma on Thursday.
Achraf Hakimi is expected to return to the side after serving a one-match suspension against Genoa, but otherwise the Nerazzurri’s starting XI should be unchanged.