Serena praises Lautaro and sees Inter in the Champions League semifinals

Inter has what it takes to aim for the Champions League semifinals. This is the belief of Aldo Serena, who in an interview with Corriere dello Sport analyzed the Nerazzurri squad available to Cristian Chivu.

According to the former striker, the attacking department can hold this level for another season. Leading the group is Lautaro Martinez, who returned from the World Cup with greater leadership skills. “It would have been unthinkable to let him go now. Next year anything could happen, in football things change quickly,” said Serena. “He is a true captain, he puts himself out there, on and off the pitch. He does the right things. In the past, Inter had an example like Icardi, who was a strong striker, but not a captain with charisma and personality.”

There is also room for Marcus Thuram, considered fundamental in high-level European matches. “He is indispensable for Inter’s European nights, the only one with the ability to go it alone against top-level defenses. Bonny can do it too, but he has a clearly different stature as a player,” explained the former striker. “Thuram needs to be stimulated and at the top of his condition to make a difference in important matches. In the Nerazzurri shirt he has experienced extraordinary moments, while at other times he has gotten a bit stuck in his moods. He needs to seek maximum consistency.”

Serena said he was in favor of bringing in another striker with different characteristics, such as the ability to beat a man. “The squad is varied, even in the qualities of the midfielders and wingers. However, in modern football, playing every three days, we have seen how injuries are always just around the corner,” he observed. Meanwhile, Pio Esposito is already shining, integrating into the team’s play not only as a finisher but also as a reference point on which to build the action.

Looking ahead to the Champions draw, the former Nerazzurri set the goal: “The squad is suitable to be competitive both in the league and in Europe. Much will also depend on the opponents, but Inter has the quality, in my opinion, to think about reaching a semifinal.” For Serie A, Serena mentioned Roma, Napoli, Milan and also Como among the teams that will fight at the top.