Former Italian international, Antonio Cassano has claimed that his former teammate, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is better than Inter Milan striker, Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgian finished last season with the Nerazzurri, topping the team’s goals chart with 33 in all competitions.
He has already scored two goals in three games in the ongoing 2020/21 Serie A season. Lukaku opened his season account with a goal in the 4-3 win over Fiorentina. He also got his second of the season in the 2-5 win over promoted Benevento.
Milan already has 100 percent record in Serie A, winning their first three Serie A games.
It could be recalled that both Ibrahimovic and Lukaku both played together during their stint with Manchester United.
Zlatan opened his Serie A account in the second game of the season against Bologna with a brace.
After recovering from COVID-19, the Swede will now be available to face the Belgian in the Milan derby.
‘Inter has more to lose’
Speaking ahead of the derby, Cassano warned that Inter ‘have the most to lose’ in tonight’s Milan Derby.
Analyzing both teams, Cassano, who has played for both sides in this fixture and gave his views on the encounter to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It’s too early to make a big impact on the campaign, but Inter are certainly the team with the most to lose.
“I honestly thought Antonio Conte would leave after his outburst at the end of last season, but he really can’t fail now. He has to win the Scudetto, because he got Arturo Vidal and Achraf Hakimi, while Lautaro Martinez remained. It’s a stronger squad, Juventus have Andrea Pirlo in his first year, so Conte is obliged to end the winning streak,” he said.
With their 100 percent record, Milan will go into this clash as joint leaders with Atalanta. The Rossoneri won all three Serie A matches without conceding a goal.
This made him to back Stefano Pioli, saying he deserved to stay.
“He had a great end to the season and qualified for the Europa League. Ralf Rangnick hasn’t won anything…”
Cassano holds Ibrahimovic in high esteem
Cassano, who played alongside the 39-year-old striker during his stint at the San Siro club, respect the player, who is his old friend.
“Zlatan is the best player in Serie A. Romelu Lukaku is young, talented, but there’s just no comparison. At age 39, physical strength isn’t enough, you need quality, and Ibra has a lot of it. I think after the original Ronaldo and Marco van Basten, there’s Ibra.
“Inter remain the favourites this evening, but Ibra can turn it all on its head, assuming COVID didn’t rob him of his strength. Lautaro Martinez has improved and reminds me of Sergio Aguero.”
Speaking in defense of Dannish playmaker, who is expected to start from the bench, Cassano, who also played for Roma before hanging his boot pointed out that Conte didn’t like the January signing.
Inter is currently decimated by injuries and illness. Eriksen is still likely not to be among the starting eleven.
“Conte doesn’t like that type of player, he prefers Arturo Vidal to give intensity, but Eriksen is a champion.
“I would always play Eriksen behind the strikers, while I’d suggest Pioli use a 4-2-3-1 to cause problems for Inter down the wings. In the absence of Ante Rebic, I’d focus on Brahim Diaz and Alexis Saelemaekers,” explained Cassano.
Cassano, who has always confessed to being an Inter fan now has his loyalties divided in the Derby della Madonnina. He won a Scudetto and Italian Supercup with Inter. But he still owes his life to Milan because they rescued him from the jaws of death when he had heart problems.
While noting that former owners, Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani treated him like a son, he said he finally fulfilled his childhood dreams by joining Inter after a row with Galliani over contract renewal.
“However, I had a massive row with Galliani in China during pre-season. I wanted a contract renewal, he kept delaying it, so I asked to join Inter.
“That was a childhood dream come true. I also met two brothers, Piero Ausilio and Marco Branca. I really got on with Yuto Nagatomo and we are still in touch. One night before a derby, I crept into his room at 4am and he was so scared that he jumped out of his skin!”
