Italian journalist Paolo Assogna believes that Inter are feeling the losses of Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi with their recent run of poor form.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, he highlighted how the losses of the duo who left in big-money sales over the summer have left the Nerazzurri without certain qualities.
Inter have done better in the absences of Lukaku and Hakimi than most expected, with the team reinforcing the squad well after their departures and changing their style of play.
However, the duo, who had been among the team’s best players on the way to the Scudetto last time around, have not been in the team to provide an extra spark when they’ve not been at their best.
Of Lukaku, Assogna feels that the Belgian could give the Nerazzurri something extra in the moments where they’ve looked out of ideas in attack.
“He’s someone who gives life to a team,” he said of the striker. “If he leaves and you sign someone Dzeko’s age, at low cost, you can’t expect the same result.”
He added that “The departures of Lukaku, Hakimi, and Conte undermined the feeling of certainty. Dumfries has been having a good season, Dzeko has replaced the Belgian on a few occasions.”
“But when you lose players like that, in the end you always pay for it,” he concluded.
