Ex-Inter midfielder Felipe Melo has admitted that he will be cheering the Nerazzurri on against another of his former clubs in Juventus, as they face off tomorrow.
The two rivals are set to meet at the Allianz Stadium in the Derby d’Italia in Serie A, and Melo argued that it would be an intriguing encounter between two teams challenging to compete with league leaders Napoli.
“You know, it’s a derby, so you can’t predict who will win, they are great teams with great players, but they are going through different moments,” the Fluminense midfielder declared in an interview with FCInter1908.it.
“Inter will fight for the Scudetto, even if Napoli are favourites, and though Juventus are not as strong as two to three years ago, it’s still Juventus.
“It won’t be a dull match to watch, Inter play well and I like them. obviously I hope Inter win.”
The former Brazil international turned his attention to Inter loanee Romelu Lukaku, who has struggled since returning to the club from Chelsea and has sustained another injury.
“I’m sure he’ll be back to his level. It’s a bit like that because of the World Cup, they play but they think about the World Cup and it’s normal,” he continued.
“I’m sure that every day when he goes to bed he says ‘I have to get back to being well’, that’s why he will return to his maximum level.
“Lukaku is so strong, I always supported him and I hoped he would come to Inter. He will come back and he will be decisive.”
Melo was impressed with the leadership shown by defender Milan Skriniar though, particularly after the Slovakian took the captain’s armband following the decision to drop Samir Handanovic.
“It is difficult for me to say whether it is right or not to give him the captain’s armband because I’m not in the dressing room, but he has the determination to play for Inter.
“You can see that he is aggressive, when he loses he is angry and inside he has the spirit of Inter. If I were an Inter director or coach I would always like him with me,” he added.
On Handanovic’s demotion to the bench and coach Simone Inzaghi’s choice to replace him with summer arrival Andre Onana in goal, Melo felt that the veteran had written his name into the history books with his service to the club.
“Handanovic is a real captain. I played with him and I can say it, even though (Mauro) Icardi had the armband during my time at Inter,” the 39-year-old claimed.
“He is a great professional, he works to always be available but he is already an icon. He did so well after Julio Cesar and is now part of the history of the club.”
Melo joined Juventus from Fiorentina in 2009 and spent two seasons with the Bianconeri before moving to Galatasaray, and subsequently signing for Inter in 2017.
