Matteo Darmian’s impact on Inter this season has been likened to that of Fabio Grosso during Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph by Italian journalist Fabio Caressa.
Having been utilised as a back-up option for most of the season, Darmian stepped off the bench to score the only goal in Inter’s 1-0 win over Hellas Verona yesterday, sending Antonio Conte’s side to within six points of the title.
Appearing on Italian television channel Sky Sport Italia yesterday, Caressa highlighted Darmian’s impact as a seemingly reserve player in the squad, and drew comparisons to Grosso, with the then-Palermo defender emerging as a crucial figure in the Azzurri’s success.
“They turned to Darmian, a perfect example of this Inter. Is he like Grosso at the World Cup? Yes, it is a fitting comparison. A decisive player today and against Cagliari,” Caressa declared.
“It’s obvious that this Inter belongs to Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez, or Christian Eriksen in the second half of the season. It’s Achraf Hakimi’s Inter, but if he’s not there then Darmian is. Or he plays on the left.”
Caressa also praised coach Antonio Conte for building a strong team spirit, whilst being able to coax the best out of Darmian following his arrival on loan from Parma at the start of the season.
“This is a strong group and perhaps it is no coincidence that it tightened when everything became more difficult due to external voices. Conte is a great coach, like Marcello Lippi in this, he managed to keep everyone focused.
“You can see from the embrace that they all gave each other at the end of the game and it is no coincidence. I think winning such an important match with a goal from Darmian is Conte’s triumph,” he concluded.
Inter face Crotone at the Stadio Ezio Scida on Saturday before welcoming Sampdoria to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, as they close in on a first Scudetto since 2010.