Former Inter striker Aldo Serena believes that the Nerazzurri’s style of play next season will be shifted with Romelu Lukaku gone and Roma striker Edin Dzeko arriving to take his place.
Speaking to Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport in an interview published in today’s print edition, Serena predicted that Dzeko’s style of play will favour more involvement from the midfielders in open play.
Last season, Lukaku was both the top goalscorer and assister in the Nerazzurri’s squad, and his well-rounded style of play meant that he could do a substantial amount of the work in the final third for Antonio Conte’s team, who were formidable in attack.
Dzeko is a different type of player, and as Serena notes, will link up with his teammates in a different way, holding onto the ball and bringing other players from the squad into play rather than counterattacking directly as the the team had been so effective at with Lukaku in the squad.
The replacement of Conte with former Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi and Achraf Hakimi with Denzel Dumfries will further alter how the Nerazzurri play, but for Serena, it is the centre-forward’s contributions that will be key.
“Now it will be more difficult for Inter to finish off games after taking the lead,” Serena said of the alterations, “With Lukaku and Hakimi it was possible to double a lead easily thanks to speed and physical strength.”
He contrasted by saying that “With Dzeko, on the other hand, the midfielders could be brought more into the final third, because the Bosnian is very good with his back to goal and therefore he will be able to find the runs of Barella, Brozovic and Sensi.”
Serena concluded, “Overall, the whole team will have to play closer to the goal. The centre of gravity will have to rise. The Dzeko-Lautaro duo will be supported more by the team.”
