Legendary former AC Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta is a big fan of Inter defender Francesco Acerbi.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster AGI, via FCInterNews, the former Rossoneri man highlighted Acerbi’s ability to closely follow an opponent he’s marking as a reason why he seems to be especially effective at stopping strikers from affecting matches.

Acerbi didn’t necessarily join Inter as the most fancied defender, although he was considered to be a broadly reliable option in defense at the Serie A level based on his seasons with Sassuolo and Lazio.

However, the 34-year-old has been enjoying a very positive campaign in a Nerazzurri shirt, starting matches regularly and showing his class to put in excellent displays against top Serie A strikers such as Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.

For his part, former Milan defender Costacurta is not surprised by what he’s seen from Acerbi.

The Rossoneri legend has long admired the current Inter defender, who he feels has the right approach to defending.

Costacurta looked ahead to the duel between Acerbi and Milan striker Olivier Giroud in the Milan derby this weekend, noting that “It will be an interesting contest, Acerbi is a defender who never lets himself get caught off guard.”

“He’s a defender who never lets an opponent out of his sight,” he noted of the Nerazzurri player, “I’ve always been a big fan of his.”