Inter striker Edin Dzeko feels that captain Samir Handanovic remains an extremely influential figure in the Nerazzurri locker room.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, the 36-year-old praised the captain for how he can communicate with and motivate the squad.
Handanovic was dropped in a Serie A match for the first time this season against Sassuolo yesterday, and the sense is that this may be something that continues.
This does not mean that the Slovenian has been stripped of the captain’s armband, however.
Handanovic was reportedly very vocal before the match in trying to rouse the rest of the squad with a captain’s speech, and also spoke with Andre Onana ahead of the Cameroonian’s first ever Serie A start.
Dzeko confirmed that, from within the Nerazzurri locker room, the captain remains a respected figure as ever regardless of whether or not he starts.
“Samir is a player who’s important for us and an important person for the locker room,” the Bosnian said of his captain, “when he speaks we all shut up and listen.”
He also commented on the team’s turnaround in form, stating that “Lately the results weren’t going well, now two important wins have come but that’s not enough.”
