News Focus
- Bergomi insists Milan, Juventus and Napoli must fight for the league title, not just Champions League spots
- Barcelona receive stern warning over the valuation of Inter centre-back Alessandro Bastoni
- Inter legend praises coach Cristian Chivu for winning the Scudetto in his debut season
- Lautaro Martinez named as the Nerazzurri’s most important player this term
Inter Milan hero Beppe Bergomi has sent a strong message to the club’s Serie A enemies. He says AC Milan, Juventus and Napoli must challenge for the championship next season. They cannot simply aim to finish in the top four.
The former defender also issued a warning to FC Barcelona. The Catalan club are interested in signing Inter star Alessandro Bastoni. Bergomi says any deal would require a huge fee. “He has great value,” the World Cup winner stated.
Bergomi spoke to La Repubblica about Inter’s recent title success. He praised head coach Cristian Chivu. The Romanian lifted the Scudetto in his first full campaign in charge. Bergomi said he always trusted Chivu would do well. He revealed that youth chief Roberto Samaden told him the manager could win the players’ hearts.
The ex-Italy international named his key player of the season. He chose captain Lautaro Martinez. The Argentine is the club’s top scorer this term. Bergomi noted he achieved this despite playing fewer matches than in previous years. He praised the striker’s quality and leadership. He added that Piotr Zielinski and Federico Dimarco are just behind him.
Bergomi set the target for the next campaign. He wants Inter to defend their crown. However, he also challenged their domestic rivals. He claimed Milan, Napoli and Juve cannot just target Champions League qualification. He called this attitude unfair to supporters. He explained that the new Champions League format is very demanding. If a team fails to finish in the top eight of the league phase, the path becomes extremely difficult.
Reports suggest Inter will have between €40 million and €50 million to spend on new signings. This figure could rise if the club sells certain players.
Bergomi shared his wishes for the transfer market. He wants a physically strong central midfielder. He named Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot and Khephren Thuram as ideal options. He also wants a skilful dribbler. He suggested Nico Paz for this role.
The former centre-back defended Bastoni. He noted that Inter missed several key men through injury this season. These included Hakan Calhanoglu, Denzel Dumfries and Lautaro. Bastoni also spent time on the sidelines. Bergomi said the defender faced unfair public criticism after making a mistake. However, he took full responsibility for his error.
Inter President Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed Barcelona’s interest in Bastoni. When asked if the club should sell the Italian, Bergomi gave a cautious response. He said it depends on the offer. He stressed that Bastoni is extremely valuable. The club cannot accept a low price. He believes the 26-year-old would succeed in Spain or in the English Premier League.