Legendary former Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro feels that Denzel Dumfries is the one player who is “replaceable” at Inter Milan.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in yesterday’s print edition, via FCInter1908, Cannavaro gave his thoughts on the Nerazzurri’s squad.
This summer, Inter’s priority is to keep the squad together.
And it is not hard to see why that is the case.
The Nerazzurri won the Serie A title in dominant fashion last season. And they did so with a mostly fairly settled starting eleven.
One area of the pitch where there was notable uncertainty on who would start for the Nerazzurri was on the right flank.
Both Dumfries and Matteo Darmian regularly started matches. It was the latter who more often got the nod in the most important matches, though.
Dumfries certainly made his impact, both as a starter and as a substitute.
However, there is a sense that fitness concerns held Dumfries back over the course of the season.
This was not just in terms of being outright injured. The Dutchman did miss a few weeks through injury on two occasions.
But even when he was available, Dumfries was not necessarily at his best compared to his first two seasons in a Nerazzurri shirt.
Cannavaro: Denzel Dumfries The One “Replaceable” Player At Inter Milan
Dumfries is also the one regular starter from last season whose future at Inter looks uncertain.
As of yet, the 28-year-old has yet to sign a contract extension with the Nerazzurri.
And by all accounts, Inter will look to cash in on Dumfries this summer if he does not extend his deal.
Asked if he thinks Inter can improve, former defender Cannavaro said that “It would be very hard to.”
“Maybe only Dumfries is replaceable,” he continued.
“But the real formula for success is different,” Cannavaro argued.
The 2006 World Cup with Italy declared that the key to success is “Having two real starting-quality players in each position over the course of a very long season.”
