Stefano Sensi and Antonio Candreva’s strong performances are the most surprising development of Inter’s preseason, according to Tuttosport this morning.

Antonio Conte has worked with limited resources this summer but he is already bedding in new signings and reviving players whose Inter careers seemed finished.

Sensi was expected to provide back-up for Marcelo Brozovic and Nicolo Barella this year, but he has taken advantage of the gap in midfield to stake his claim for a place in the starting XI.

“Inter haven’t had a player like this in midfield for years, perhaps since the days of Mateo Kovacic or even Wesley Sneijder,” the paper suggested.

“Sensi attracts the ball towards himself like a magnet, even when he’s being pressed, and he is rapid enough to make the right decision with it, whether that be a sideways pass, a forward run or a through-ball for the strikers.”

Candreva and Dalbert were both expected to leave Inter this summer, but Conte has had encouraging signs from them on the wings as well.

Tuttosport lauded the former Lazio man for a series of defensive diagonals he executed during Sunday’s match against Tottenham, having regained his place in the team at right wing-back.

Dalbert joined Inter in a €21 million deal from Nice in 2017 and has struggled to repay the club’s faith in him ever since.

His performances in preseason have suggested he may yet have something to give under Conte, although the paper assured it was wise not to get carried away yet.