Inter striker Edin Dzeko has opened up about his career and the significance that playing for the Nerazzurri holds for him.
Speaking to Amazon Prime, as reported by FCInter1908, the Bosnian gave his thoughts on his career up to this point including the decision to join Inter from Roma.
Dzeko has been in Serie A for six seasons already, having joined the Giallorossi in the summer of 2015, and even before this point he had established himself as a top striker.
There is no doubt that the 35-year-old is closer to the end of his career now than he is to the beginning, but he has nevertheless started all three games for the Nerazzurri so far season and has made a highly positive impression.
Showing that he can leave an important legacy in an Inter shirt is important for Dzeko and he is happy to be with his current club.
On the nickname “The Swan of Sarajevo” Dzeko said, “I’ve heard it before during my six seasons at Roma, and even more in the last month. I like it a lot.”
Of his early life Dzeko said, “Childhood was not easy for me and for many children in Bosnia during the war, people came out of there much stronger and what I have become, on a sporting level, I did not expect. As to the human level, on the other hand, yes, thanks to my parents I first became a man and then everything else.”
On his breakthrough at Wolfsburg where he won the Bundesliga, Dzeko said, “In Wolfsburg we weren’t the favourites but we had a strong coach in [Felix] Magath, very intense training sessions and in the end we won the championship and that’s the only thing that matters.”
“At [Manchester] City we had a great team with Mr. Mancini who brought in many strong players,” he went on. “We were a very strong team that had to win and dominate, he had a lot of quality. We almost always played with two strikers, when I wasn’t playing I would go to him and ask him why but in the end we won a Cup and a league title together, I just have to thank the coach.”
Of his partnership with former teammate Sergio Aguero he said, “Strong players can always play together. I had a great time with him and I know for sure him with me too, if we do here at Inter what we did there I am happy. Lautaro is a great player and we hope that over the next two years at least we will do great things for Inter.”
Dzeko spoke about his time playing for Roma as well, stating that “It’s a difficult place and it’s true, a top player must have personality. Spalletti is one of the best coaches I’ve had – I remember that after the first training session he took me aside and told me, ‘In these games you played at City, this movement is not good, you have to do this.'”
“Then we worked a lot on movements and shots, this helped me to become Capocannoniere,” he explained.
The 35-year-old also spoke about the famous comeback by the Giallorossi in the 2017-18 Champions League at the Stadio Olimpico.
“We thought about it but in our heads we were saying, ‘How do you score three goals against Barcelona?’ After losing 4-1 in the first leg, we just had to try. The fans were always behind us, the first goal changed everything.”
“Even now we didn’t realize what opportunity we had with Liverpool,” he reflected. “We played really well. We threw it away in the first leg, but anything could happen.”
“I didn’t expect to come here,” Dzeko said of his move to the Nerazzurri. “I talked to [Roma manager] Mourinho and told him that I would give everything for Roma even if I didn’t like things that have happened in the last six months. I have a lot of respect for Mourinho and Roma, who gave me so much and who I thank.”
He continued, “Inter arrived, my contract was about to expire and Roma had confirmed that they did not want to renew the contract. Inter wanted me so much, Inzaghi and the club pushed hard for me. They have a lot of faith in me and they know that I can still contribute so much.”
“I met [Inter President Steven Zhang] years ago in Milan and he immediately asked me: ‘Can you imagine playing for Inter one day?'” the striker related.
“We joked around, last year after Inter-Roma we met and Inter were already champions of Italy and I complimented him and Zhang said to me: ‘You see, you could have won the Scudetto here.'”
Of Inter coach Simone Inzaghi he said, “In recent years at Lazio he has done great things, I hope that together with the team, the club and everyone we will continue to do great things for Inter building on the Scudetto that Inter deservedly won last year.”
Dzeko was complimentary of former Inter striker Romelu Lukaku but does not feel pressured by replacing the Belgian, stating that “He has given so much in the last two years, he has done many things for Inter and they have won the Scudetto.”
“He has scored many goals,” he continued, “so I have to praise him but I came here and I don’t feel a burden and I don’t look at what another player has done. I only think of Inter, of doing and helping the team. Only this. This is how I am, I only look forward.”
Dzeko closed by speaking about the upcoming Champions League campaign, stating that “I can’t wait to play in the Champions League again after two years, we play against Real now, we play against the best but Inter and I are ready and we can’t wait.”
