Legendary former AC Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta feels that Inter Milan are big favourites to retain their Serie A title.
Costacurta emphasized the Nerazzurri’s squad depth in naming them as the likely winners of the title in an interview published in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInter1908.
Inter head into the Serie A season as defending champions.
It is the first time that they have done so since the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
But there are a couple of important differences this time around.
First of all, last season Inter won the title in nothing short of dominant fashion. They finished the campaign nearly twenty points clear of city rivals AC Milan in second place.
Then, there is the fact that, unlike in the summer of 2021, Inter have kept the core of last season’s team together.
Right after winning the title in 2021, Inter sold the likes of Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku.
This time around, by contrast, there have been no exits of anywhere near that stature.
On the contrary, Inter have actually made a couple notable signings.
Both striker Mehdi Taremi and midfielder Piotr Zielinski have arrived on free transfers. Both of that duo will expect to start regularly over the course of the season.
Costacurta Names Inter As Big Favourites To Retain Serie A Crown
Asked who he considers to be the favourites to win the title, Costacurta named “Inter.”
“Because they’re the strongest team,” he said.
“I certainly don’t think they can have quite the same sort of season as the last one, but it’s not as though it’s suddenly a rule that the team with the Scudetto will do badly the next season.”
“Among other things, Milan and Napoli didn’t start the season as favourites,” Costacurta argued.
“Milan because Inter had thrown away the Scudetto the previous season. And Napoli lost Spalletti who had been the architect of their miracle.”
“I think Inter have actually been the strongest team in Serie A for the last three or four years,” Costacurta argued.
“It shouldn’t surprise us they won the last Scudetto,” he continued. “Rather, we should see them as having thrown away a couple.”
The legendary former Milan defender then commented, “For me they’ve improved their squad a lot.”
“Last season I wasn’t totally convinced they had two starting elevens.”
“Simone probably wasn’t either. Otherwise he would not have managed the Champions League group stage the way he did.”
“But this season, he can really play one team in the league and one in Europe,” Costacurta argued.”
“In my view Marotta and Ausilio have done phenomenally,” he argued.
“In this squad, all the players are truly interchangeable. Other than maybe Lautaro and Calhanoglu.”
