Former Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia believes that current Nerazzurri defender Milan Skriniar will have to make his own choice about his future.
Speaking to Italian news outlet Gazzetta.it, the 34-year-old suggested that it is not his place to try and advise Skriniar, whilst he also gave the view that his former team are still very much in the running to win the Serie A title.
Skriniar’s future has become a matter of great uncertainty and anxiety within the Nerazzurri world.
The Slovakian will have to decide whether to accept Inter’s contract extension offer, or leave for a different club on a free transfer at the end of the current season.
This decision has not arrived yet but is likely to soon.
As far as Ranocchia is concerned, there is no right or wrong decision for the former Sampdoria defender to make, although he himself would like to see him stay.
Asked if he has any advice for Skriniar, the former Inter player said that “I never give advice on certain topics – in one’s life and in one’s career, one makes the choices one deems to be the most appropriate.”
“As a fan of Inter and Skriniar, however, I hope he extends, because I love him and he has done great things with this club.”
Ranocchia said that “I always extended when my contract was coming to a close, but I understand very well that what my situation was at those time and what his is now are not comparable.”
“I hope and hope that an agreement will be found though, because Milan is one of the best defenders in the world, and he still has a lot of room to grow.”
Of the Nerazzurri’s Coppa Italia win over Parma earlier this week, Ranocchia said that “That match was virtually a carbon copy of last season’s round of sixteen match [against Empoli[ and Acerbi’s goal, just like my bicycle kick, was not exactly a standard goal for a defender to score.”
“Since Tuesday I’ve received a lot of messages and everyone has been saying that the similarities are striking!”
“When I think back on it, it still makes me excited,” the former defender said of his goal against Empoli, “it was perhaps the best goal of my career and it couldn’t have come at a better time, in the ninetieth minute.”
“Now I hope that like in the 2021-22 season, Inter can end up winning the Coppa Italia.”
“The beginning was the same, let’s hope that the finale goes the same way as well,” Ranocchia noted.
Of Inter’s pursuit of the Serie A title, Ranocchia said that “Napoli are in a league of their own right now, and only lost for the first time in January.”
“There’s no doubt that they’re the favourites, but Juventus have emerged and will be in the hunt until the end,” he continued.
“There are still a lot of matches left to go, and even if ten points is a lot to make up, the gap is far from impossible to make up for Inzaghi, who has a very strong squad.”
Ranocchia also spoke about striker Romelu Lukaku, currently struggling with injuries and poor form, stating that “I hope Romelu is able to find his best form again.”
“He was out of action for a long time and I, being as tall as he is even if not quite as large in physique, know just how long it can take to return to one’s best after a long injury problem like that,” the former defender continued.
“His qualities aren’t up for debate,” he said of Lukaku, “but we have to be patient for at least another couple of weeks.”
“From August onwards he’s never been fit, and you can only really find your rhythm by playing.”
