Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic has said that he thinks Milan Skriniar staying at the club is essential, according to a report in the Italian media today.
Speaking during an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Slovenian captain discussed a number of players in the Inter squad.
Whilst the situation has diffused slightly, he still feels that Milan Skriniar simply cannot be allowed to leave the club this summer as he is too important to the team.
“Very important, for me it is essential that he stays with us. We cannot lose any more pieces. I see him every day, he’s calm at Appiano.”
Samir Handanovic is by far the longest serving player at Inter right now having joined in 2012. He talked about how much of an honour that is for him.
“For me being at Inter since 2012-13 is about honour and responsibility, but also belonging, identity. If I’ve stayed so long it’s because I feel good here and there has been continuous growth, mine and that of the club.”
When pressed on what exactly he means about the identity of the club, he said: “Getting excited about the jersey, feeling something special.
“To see this not just as a place to work or earn money, but as something that gives you feelings, regardless of victories or defeats. You can leave here, but many people want to come back.”
Romelu Lukaku is of course someone who did leave and has now come back on a loan deal from Chelsea. Samir Handanovic says that it is as of he never left.
“Not surprised, because I saw how he was at Chelsea, I listened to his famous interview, you could feel melancholy and nostalgia.
“You always have to know what dressing room you go to and Rom knew that ours is healthy, cheerful, positive.
“In life, you often choose at the beginning for economic reasons, but then well-being always takes over: if you feel good in one place, it’s normal that you want to come back. It’s as if he never left, he’s the same person as before.”
New goalkeeper Andre Onana recently said in an interview that he respects that Samir Handanovic is the starting goalkeeper to start with.
In response, the Slovenian said: “These are important things to say because they give serenity to the environment, but we all know that everyone wants to play: it’s right and healthy that way. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had said the opposite. It’s normal competition, it’s good for everyone.”
When asked how much game time Andre Onana can expect to get, he said: “I don’t know, but there are so many close games, anything can happen, and the coach always decides. But the team benefits from our competition because they have two strong goalkeepers.”
A key part of last season was the mistake that Andrei Radu made against Bologna which was a key moment in the title race.
On that incident, Samir Handanovic said: “It was a huge disappointment, but that’s life. And a season never depends on one game.
“I didn’t say anything to him that night, I spoke to him the next day. I told him that that episode would make him grow as a goalkeeper, but above all as a man. Andrei has to know that he will make mistakes, like everyone else, but that he has the chance to prove his qualities.”
When asked what criticism has annoyed him the most over the years, the 38-year-old said: “I’m annoyed by biased evaluations, which don’t analyse game situations in their entirety.
“I don’t want to go into individual cases, but sometimes I have seen bias. If you build a thought with arguments behind it, then yes, I like criticism. And it helps.”
