Former Inter midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron believes that the signing of Joaquin Correa will be a major boost to Inter this season.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, the Argentine gave a detailed appraisal of the new Inter striker’s development and of some of the qualities that he brings to the team.
Veron played for the likes of Sampdoria, Parma, Lazio, and Manchester United in addition to the Nerazzurri during his European career, and Correa makes the switch to Inter from one of the clubs he is most associated with playing at, the Biancocelesti.
The 46-year-old is a major admirer of Correa, and believes that his countryman is at just the right stage in his career to slot into the Inter project and make a very positive impression.
The 27-year-old joins after three seasons in the Italian capital where he has impressed, and Veron believes that Inter will benefit greatly from his arrival.
“Let’s say that I wanted him, and still love him, very much,” the former midfielder explained, ” and that I helped him in the beginning and gave him some advice. But the rest he achieved by himself, I didn’t do anything.”
Veron described the former Lazio man’s playing style as that of “A classic second striker. But he can also play as a winger or an attacking midfielder, but his natural role is that of second striker.”
“He moves on the basis of the central striker,” he elaborated, “makes his movements around him, supports him, guides him with skilful passes, because El Tucu is also a good assist-man.”
“He has made an excellent career journey,” Veron went on, “When he arrived in Italy I had talked about him with the staff of Sampdoria, his first team. Then, after a brief experience in Spain [with Sevilla], he arrived at Lazio and I was happy because it was one of my teams.”
He continued, “And now he’s at Inter, another team of mine. What I can wish on him is that he has fun, as I did. Italy is the home of football, I always say that.”
“If you become a great in Serie A, you will be a great everywhere: in La Liga, in the Premier League, in the Bundesliga. Italy is the university of football,” said the former midfielder.
“He knows the Italian league well,” he said, “he knows that the defenses are formidable, that the teams are tactically organized. And having this knowledge base helps him improve day after day, workout after workout. El Tucu is someone who always wants to learn.”
Veron described Correa’s best attribute as being “The ability to make himself available to the team with his movements. He does not play alone, but plays for others and with others.”
He went on, “He is not a soloist, a dribble addict. Everything he does is aimed at developing the move, together with the collective.”
Asked about Correa’s biggest weakness, the former midfielder joked, “I know, but I am not saying it – otherwise I will do a favour to the opposirion defenders.”
“However,” Veron stated, “he has few defects. I repeat: El Tucu has football inside him, and when you have football inside, you hardly fail.”
“I don’t know how much money [Inter] spent,” he continued, “but I do know that Correa is a great striker who can help Inter defend the Scudetto and go far in the Champions League. And then, something which should never be overlooked, he is a good young man, someone who never raises his voice and remains calm.”
Veron has no doubt that his countryman will be able to establish a major role for himself at Inter despite other talented attacking options in the squad, stating that “Inter are involved in three competitions, there are many matches and Simone Inzaghi, who knows him well, knows how to use Correa.”
“In modern football,” he continued, “no one can play a maximum of sixty or seventy games in a season. Rotation is necessary, especially among the forwards who take many shots and make continuous runs. I think Correa fits perfectly into the Nerazzurri team.”
Veron believes that despite the loss of Romelu Lukaku, there is much to be optimistic about when it comes to the quality of their attack.
“Given that, unless you have Maradona, no team can only rely on a single player, I think Inter have operated wisely on the transfer market,” he explained.
“Dzeko is a center forward who works alone,| he said, “moves, finds the runs of his teammates. Correa is someone who loves to play between the lines, communicates with his teammates, triangulates, crosses.”
He went on, “Sure, Lukaku is a phenomenon, we can’t deny it, but I don’t see the team getting worse. Furthermore, a team is not only made up of forwards, there are also midfielders and defenders, and the Inter players seem very good to me, starting with Barella. So I have no doubt – with Correa we see an even stronger Inter.”
