DZEKO: ‘INTER MUST THANK LUKAKU, ROMA SOLD ME TO JUVENTUS’
Inter face Juventus in the Derby d’Italia on Sunday and Edin Dzeko admits he could have played the game in a Bianconeri shirt: ‘Roma had sold me to Juve.’
In the summer, the Bosnian striker joined the Nerazzurri from Roma, but he could have signed with the Bianconeri one year earlier.
“I don’t look to the past and I am happy at Inter,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Roma opened talks with Juventus and I knew nothing about it, I entered the scene later on. The move collapsed because Roma didn’t find my replacement.”
When he first had contact with Inter, it was actually Aleksander Kolarov who called him as the two are friends from their time at Manchester City.
“Do you know who phoned me? Kolarov. It was he who told me that Inter were interested, that there was the possibility of a transfer and here I am.”
The Nerazzurri host Juventus at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday, with the Bianconeri travelling to Milan on the back of four Serie A wins in a row. Massimiliano Allegri’s side are ten points behind leaders Napoli and three behind Inter.
“You don’t win the title in October or November. Inter and Juventus know it well,” said Dzeko.
“However, if you lose points now, it becomes difficult to recover.
“I scored my first goal in Italy against [Giorgio] Chiellini, but it’s hard to play against him, he’s one of the best defenders of the last ten years.
“On Sunday, I can do without goals, I’d like to win even without scoring.
“We need to nullify what they are able to do very well, namely counter-attacks.
“This Inter side is the most offensive team I’ve played in, together with Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City,” the striker continued.
“We attack with many men, but we concede more goals than we should, that’s why we need to improve.”
“I knew I was arriving in a great club, I had the goal of making myself appreciated immediately. I just wanted that, then the rest was done by the champions I found here.”
Edin Dzeko scored the first of Inter’s goals against FC Sheriff in the Champions League on Thursday night, and he is happy with how much attacking the team does.
“The goal gave me extreme joy, what people always expect from me. But precisely because I am a striker, that defensive race was given prominence: if you don’t win after scoring, it’s of little use.
Edin Dzeko has a lot of praise for Simone Inzaghi and says that he admired his work at Lazio too.
“Yes, he is like a brother. But he is also very sincere and direct: he always tells the truth, both when it is pleasant and when it is not. And this is what we expect because the truth is always good: if someone does not tell you things how they are you can never improve.
“I expected it exactly like this. Also in the way of playing because I was struck by the quality of Lazio. I immediately thought if we play in the same way here, I will have a lot of fun.”
Dzeko has already found the net seven times in 11 appearances so far this season and Inter don’t seem to miss Romelu Lukaku who returned to Chelsea in a €115m deal.
“He made important things here and Inter must thank him,” the 35-year-old claimed.
“He brought the Scudetto along with Conte and then he made his choice. Honestly, I always look ahead.
“I am here at Inter to win, but it’s never easy. Had Inter kept Conte and Lukaku and the same players of last year, they wouldn’t be sure to win the title anyway.”
Edin Dzeko also has a lot of praise for his strike partner, Lautaro Martinez, saying: “Lautaro is very young and strong and has room to improve a lot.
“I feel great with him: he is not only a great player but also one who thinks about the collective good. With every goal he rejoices as he did. You need these players to win.”
Finally, Edin Dzeko believes that there is more to come from him at Inter despite scoring six goals in Serie A already this season.
“I have not given the best version of myself. But there were also many external factors that influenced my form.”
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