Category: Inter

Historic precedent suggests Lautaro-Correa is best for Coppa Italia final

May 8, 2022

If Simone Inzaghi had any doubts about his Inter attack for the Coppa Italia final against Juventus next week, historic results could give him a clue who to start.

The Nerazzurri will play in their first Coppa Italia final in a decade next week on Wednesday, giving Inzaghi the chance to secure his second piece of silverware in the Lombardy capital. Inter’s last cup final came in the 2010-11 season, when they beat Palermo 3-1 in the final.

As highlighted by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Argentinian players have had an important impact on Inter’s Coppa Italia finals in the past, scoring nine of their last 13 goals in the decisive match. These include goals for Hernan Crespo, Diego Milito, Julio Cruz and Cambiasso.

With Joaquin Correa returning to full fitness, Inzaghi may decide to partner the former Lazio man alongside an in-form Lautaro Martinez, relying on an Argentinian strike force to overcome Massimiliano Allegri’s inconsistent Juventus.

Allegri must win Coppa Italia to salvage season

May 8, 2022

Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus will now undoubtedly finish the season in a poorer fashion than they did last year under Andrea Pirlo and the pressure is on ahead of the Coppa Italia final.

Following the painful 2-1 loss to Genoa on Friday, the Bianconeri can only finish the season with a maximum of 75 points now, three lower than what Pirlo’s team finished with last campaign. Both this season and last, Juventus were knocked out of the Champions League in the Round of 16 stage, so Allegri failed to improve on that front either.

Pirlo did manage to secure the Coppa Italia last year and now Allegri has the chance to match that, although he’ll have to overcome Simone Inzaghi’s hungry Inter. Winning the cup wouldn’t fully salvage the disappointing season, but it would at least give the fans something to smile about ahead of the next campaign.

Should Allegri fail to guide Juventus to Coppa Italia glory next week, the Bianconeri will fail to win a trophy for the first time in a decade.

Allegri must win Coppa Italia to salvage season

May 8, 2022

Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus will now undoubtedly finish the season in a poorer fashion than they did last year under Andrea Pirlo and the pressure is on ahead of the Coppa Italia final.

Following the painful 2-1 loss to Genoa on Friday, the Bianconeri can only finish the season with a maximum of 75 points now, three lower than what Pirlo’s team finished with last campaign. Both this season and last, Juventus were knocked out of the Champions League in the Round of 16 stage, so Allegri failed to improve on that front either.

Pirlo did manage to secure the Coppa Italia last year and now Allegri has the chance to match that, although he’ll have to overcome Simone Inzaghi’s hungry Inter. Winning the cup wouldn’t fully salvage the disappointing season, but it would at least give the fans something to smile about ahead of the next campaign.

Should Allegri fail to guide Juventus to Coppa Italia glory next week, the Bianconeri will fail to win a trophy for the first time in a decade.

Decisive days for Bastoni as end of season approaches

May 8, 2022

Alessandro Bastoni is currently working hard to be fit in time for the Coppa Italia final, but his Inter future is uncertain ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 23-year-old Italian defender is one of the strongest players in Simone Inzaghi’s squad in Milan and his absence for the last three games has been felt. Bastoni is showing good signs in training though and he’s pushing to return in time for the Coppa Italia final against Juventus on Wednesday next week.

As highlighted by Calciomercato.com, Inter will have to carefully manage their finances in the summer and one or two top players could be sold to allow for some investments, with Lautaro Martinez and Bastoni proving the favourites.

Neither player can be considered unsellable as an attractive offer would force the Nerazzurri’s hand, so these are now decisive days for Bastoni. Antonio Conte’s Tottenham have already expressed their interest and they could look to make a serious move for him once the season ends.

Decisive days for Bastoni as end of season approaches

May 8, 2022

Alessandro Bastoni is currently working hard to be fit in time for the Coppa Italia final, but his Inter future is uncertain ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 23-year-old Italian defender is one of the strongest players in Simone Inzaghi’s squad in Milan and his absence for the last three games has been felt. Bastoni is showing good signs in training though and he’s pushing to return in time for the Coppa Italia final against Juventus on Wednesday next week.

As highlighted by Calciomercato.com, Inter will have to carefully manage their finances in the summer and one or two top players could be sold to allow for some investments, with Lautaro Martinez and Bastoni proving the favourites.

Neither player can be considered unsellable as an attractive offer would force the Nerazzurri’s hand, so these are now decisive days for Bastoni. Antonio Conte’s Tottenham have already expressed their interest and they could look to make a serious move for him once the season ends.

Juve receive Locatelli boost ahead of Coppa Italia final

May 8, 2022

Manuel Locatelli will be called up for Juventus’ upcoming Coppa Italia final against rivals Inter.

The 24-year-old Italian midfielder, who joined the Bianconeri last summer from Sassuolo, suffered a medial collateral ligament problem in the first half of Juventus’ 1-0 loss to Inter on April 3, forcing him to miss the last five consecutive league outings.

As reported by Calciomercato.com, Locatelli has recovered from his injury and will be called up by Allegri for the Coppa Italia final against Inter on May 11. He has been working hard in training over the last few days and has been desperate to be fit for the match.

It’s hard to imagine Locatelli starting the match, but he could come off the bench in the second half to give Juventus a boost.

Weston McKennie, on the other hand, has not been able to recover from his injury in time and so will not be called up for the final. He’s aiming to be fit in time for the next league game against Lazio.

Manuel Locatelli

Inter: Lautaro doesn’t miss Lukaku

May 7, 2022

Inter star Lautaro Martinez has scored more goals than in 2020-21, proving that he doesn’t miss last season’s strike partnership with Romelu Lukaku.

El Toro netted a decisive brace against Empoli yesterday, helping Inter to secure a 4-2 win and leapfrog Milan on top of the Serie A table. The Rossoneri have a game in hand and will face Verona at the Stadio Bentegodi tomorrow.

Lautaro has scored 23 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions, 19 in Serie A. He has netted one goal every 132 minutes. It’s his most prolific season at Inter, even better than 2020-21 when he formed one of the best strike partnerships in Europe with Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian returned to Chelsea in the summer but is having a disappointing spell at Stamford Bridge. The striker misses the good old days in a Nerazzurri shirt, but Lautaro has become even more consistent without ‘Big Rom’ close to him. The Argentinean star had scored 19 goals in 48 games last season, 17 in Serie A.

Lautaro is Inter’s best scorer this season and one of Simone Inzaghi’s key men. He has recently extended his contract until 2026, but his future at the club remains in doubt as the Benamata may need to sell another star in the summer to balance the books.

Lautaro Martinez: ‘Inter the most important thing’

May 6, 2022

Lautaro Martinez explains the difficulty of his first goal in the 4-2 comeback win over Empoli and why ‘Inter is the most important thing of all.’

The Nerazzurri were shaken after going 2-0 down at San Siro to Empoli with Andrea Pinamonti and Kristjan Asllani goals, but Simone Romagnoli put into his own net before Lautaro Martinez equalised.

The turnaround was completed after the restart with another Lautaro Martinez strike and Alexis Sanchez in stoppages.

“We managed to recover after going two goals down and played in the second half with the intensity that we are capable of,” the Argentina international told DAZN.

“My first goal was certainly tougher than the second, because I saw the goalkeeper had two players in front of him, so I aimed for the far post.”

This victory sends Inter temporarily top of the Serie A table, awaiting Milan’s trip to Hellas Verona on Sunday.

“It was an important game for us, but then we’ve been saying that for weeks now. We’re in the running for another title and we must do everything we can to win it.”

Meanwhile, Lautaro Martinez has already achieved a new personal best with 23 competitive goals this season.

“I try to improve every day and keep raising the bar. I also must do what the coach asks, because Inter is the most important thing of all.”

Lautaro was asked if he has written to his fellow Argentina international Giovanni Simeone to encourage Verona to give their best against Milan.

“No, no, I don’t need to do that, I am sure Verona will put in a great performance.”

Serie A Highlights: Inter 4-2 Empoli

May 6, 2022

Watch as Empoli stun the San Siro crowd by going 2-0 up, but Inter complete an extraordinary comeback to win 4-2, not to mention VAR drama and the upright rattled.

Inter-owned Andrea Pinamonti opened the scoring on Szymon Zurkowski’s assist, but VAR took centre-stage when another Empoli goal was disallowed for an earlier offside and the Nerazzurri penalty award was revoked.

Serie A | Inter 4-2 Empoli: Lautaro comeback keeps Scudetto race alive

Kristjan Asllani did double their lead after a defensive error, but Simone Romagnoli’s own goal and a Lautaro Martinez first-time strike off the outside of the boot completed the comeback.

Inter took control, Lautaro Martinez and Alexis Sanchez scoring around Edin Dzeko hitting the upright.

Hamsik: ‘Insigne and I have a similar story at Napoli’

May 6, 2022

Napoli legend Marek Hamsik sees similarities between his and Lorenzo Insigne’s farewell to the club and confirms he snubbed moves to Juventus, Milan and Inter.

Hamsik left Napoli in February 2019 after becoming the player with the most appearances and goals across all competitions. His contract at the club would have expired in 2020.

“It was a huge love story. I have many friends at the club. I talk to Aurelio De Laurentiis when I can, who has always shown me his affection. I am in touch with Maurizio Micheli, Napoli’s chief scout. I owe him a lot. He is the one who brought me to Italy [at Brescia] for the first time,” he told Il Corriere dello Sport.

Hamsik didn’t have a proper farewell game before leaving the club and sees similarities between his farewell and Lorenzo Insigne’s. The Italy international will join Toronto as a free agent in June.

“Lorenzo’s history is very similar to mine. Everything happened very quickly, the season was ongoing when I left,” said Hamsik.

“However, it’s never too late to meet again, perhaps we could organise a game at the San Paolo [Stadio Maradona now]. If they want me to return with a role at the club after the end of my career, I’d be ready.

“I didn’t forget anything. The Coppa Italia, the Supercups, emotions, memories. A Serie A title would have been deserved, we were really close.”

Massimiliano Allegri wanted to sign Hamsik at Milan and Juventus, while Walter Mazzarri tried to bring him to Inter, but Hamsik never thought about leaving Naples.

“Now I can say that I was proud to attract interest from an important coach such as Allegri,” he said.

“I never talked to him directly, but I know he considered me worthy of playing with him and that he would be pleased [to have me in his teams].”

“Inter? I can’t deny it, but I never thought about leaving Napoli. I could have never done it.”

Hamsik