Inter’s return to form since the return of Marcelo Brozovic to the team has seemingly provided further evidence that the team can only look close to their best when the 29-year-old plays.

This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, who argue that the Nerazzurri only look like themselves when Brozovic is on the pitch.

Brozovic had missed out on Inter’s clash with Sassuolo at the end of February through suspension before missing their two matches going into the break, against Torino and Fiorentina, due to injury.

The Nerazzurri took a total of two points from those matches after putting in some of their least convincing displays of the entire season, and the midfielder’s absence was pointed to as a key factor in these poor results.

The Croat spent the break getting back to full fitness in time to play an important role in the centre of the pitch in a gritty 1-0 win away to Juventus.

That performance was not the kind that Inter have usually looked to impose on teams throughout the season, but the 29-year-old’s influence and calmness still proved to be important at times in a backs-to-the-wall defensive display.

In the two matches since, Brozovic has helped the Nerazzurri back to looking more dominant in playing a more possession-based game with a higher defensive line.

In wins against Hellas Verona and Spezia, the latter of which saw Brozovic score his first league goal of the campaign, the midfielder has been one of the best players on the pitch.

With the Croat pulling the strings in the centre of the pitch Inter have looked like a team with clear ideas and an identity, something which they’ve often failed to do in matches when they’ve had to cope without him.