Inter forward Edin Dzeko has revealed that he was always destined to join Inter at some point having nearly been signed by Antonio Conte in 2019, according to a report in the Italian media today.
Speaking during an interview with Corriere della Sera, the Bosnian forward opened up about how Antonio Conte tried to sign him twice during his career but it was destiny that he has now ended up at Inter.
“Already when Conte was at Chelsea he wanted me, but I wasn’t sure about going back to England. As soon as he arrived at Inter he tried again. The moment has come now, the roads had to cross: it was destiny.”
Talking about the Nerazzurri’s title challenge, Edin Dzeko clearly noticed that not many expected Inter to be able to retain the title this season after losing their coach and two great players.
“At the beginning of the season there was talk of Milan and Napoli for the Scudetto, there was not much talk of Inter. You want to win big matches, but if you lose against small teams, it weighs more.
“If you win the derby you are a piece ahead, but the championship points you make them in the games with the small ones that you have to make yours by force.”
Edin Dzeko was signed as a replacement for Romelu Lukaku but he says he did not view the move like that and is only concentrated on playing as well as he knows he can.
“If you go to a place and you start thinking about what those who were before you did, you better not go anywhere. If I had only thought for a moment I would never have come. I know what I can give, my form this year doesn’t surprise me.”
When asked if now was the right time to join Inter, the former Manchester City forward explained that he does not think about the past but is happy with the progress so far.
“I don’t think about what could have been. We are a strong team, with a new coach who showed a lot at Lazio. We have already won the Super Cup, that’s why I came to Inter: there is more chance of winning.”
Talking specifically about Simone Inzaghi, Edin Dzeko echoed the sentiments of many other current Inter players.
“I still see him as a teammate. He knows how to manage very well and for a coach it is essential. There are 25 players, they can never all be happy. Try to be honest with everyone.
“On the pitch if we have fun it is thanks to him. He kept Conte’s base, which is important because he changed the mentality of the players, but Inzaghi carries it forward with his methods.
“Compared to when Lukaku was here, the game is different. In the last two years, Inter played more on the counterattack, this year everyone has more fun, inside and out. I’m someone who knows how to play the ball and doesn’t just look at the goal. They say I have to score more, but if I don’t and we win it’s still great.
“In the period in which I did not score we won almost all the matches. If we had been fourth, with me scoring little I would have asked myself some questions.”
Discussing the Champions League tie against Liverpool, Edin Dzeko admitted that it is easy to concede a lot against them but they are beatable.
“With Real Madrid we played two equal matches, the first we had to win and we weren’t yet at today’s level. Liverpool are strong, you can beat them but you can also concede 5 goals. We’ll play our game.”
