Former Inter reserve goalkeeper Tommaso Berni believes that current Nerazzurri goalkeeper Samir Handanovic can continue to compete at the top level for many years to come.

Berni served as back up to club captain Handanovic from 2014 until retiring last season, having never made a senior appearance for the Nerazzurri.

However, the former Wimbledon and Ternana player insisted that Handanovic remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world and that the 36-year-old could continue to perform over the coming seasons.

“Handanovic is one of the strongest goalkeepers internationally and is complete from every aspect. For me, he’ll continue to be one of the best even when he reaches 40,” Berni claimed in an interview published in today’s newspaper edition of Tuttosport.

Berni also assessed former teammate Christian Eriksen after the midfielder returned to form following a difficult start to life at Inter since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in January 2020.

“I was sure he would return like this. Christian is very strong and Conte is not someone who shoots himself in the foot. As soon as he understood that he had integrated into the squad, he trusted him and it paid off.”

Having been involved in the squad for six seasons, Berni went on to reveal some of the secrets of the Inter dressing room, whilst also considering his infamous red cards from the bench.

“These days I look back on those red cards with a joke from Conte, who told me it was okay if I did it.

“There are rules in the dressing room. If you are sent off for stupid things like protesting, putting your teammates in trouble, then you have to buy gifts for the entire squad.

“Lautaro Martinez bought TVs for everyone, others bought phones or champagne. The cohesion of the dressing room is fundamental. If you manage to create a strong group, at the end of the year you will find yourself with many more points in the table. At Inter, this unity is clear,” Berni concluded.