Romelu Lukaku’s secret ingredient at Inter is his exceptional relationship with everybody at the club, according to Nerazzurri legend Walter Zenga.
The former Manchester United striker is leading Inter’s charge towards the Serie A title this season, having banged in another 25 goals in all competitions for Conte.
Lukaku left Italy today to join up with the Belgian national team for their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers, but when he comes back there’s no doubt he’ll be ready to make the difference again.
In an interview for today’s print edition of Gazzetta dello Sport, Zenga said: “Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez complete each other very well.
“Lukaku hasn’t surprised me: he was wanted and pursued by the entire club and has performed at a superior level because they’ve always had unconditional faith in him.
“I had already heard good things about Lautaro from Luciano Spalletti a long time ago, back when he wasn’t playing because of Mauro Icardi.
“If anything, when I get the chance I want to ask Conte what he’d have done if Inter had signed Edin Dzeko from Roma (as was rumoured at the end of the January transfer window).”
Lukaku has scored 59 goals in 84 appearances since his club-record move from the Premier League in the summer of 2019.
Zenga also spoke more generally about Inter’s bid to win their first league title since 2010, and he seemed pretty bullish about their chances of getting the job done.
“The race for the Scudetto depends entirely on Inter, it’s evident,” L’Uomo Ragno added.
“Doing well in Europe would be the next step, but in the meantime they need to win this league title.
“I won’t say they’re obliged to but after their elimination from the UEFA Champions League it became a primary objective.
“Inter’s run of eight straight wins has created a nice gap for them in the table.
“There’s a long way to go, but when a team is top of the league they know how to change their outlook: they become stronger mentally, more aware of their abilities.
“Inter’s win at Torino was borne out of their self-belief, they’re a team that now knows what it wants and gets it.”
Inter are six points clear of second-placed AC Milan heading into this week’s international break, but Conte’s side have a game in hand after Saturday’s fixture at home to Sassuolo was postponed.
