The former San Siro favourite believes that the powerful Frenchman will provide Roberto Mancini’s men with exactly what they are missing in midfield
Giuseppe Bergomi believes that Geoffrey Kondogbia can be the poster boy of the new Inter team, describing the midfielder as a perfect blend of physique and technique that will help the club challenge Juventus for the Serie A title next season.
The Nerazzurri beat city rivals AC Milan to the signing of the France international, paying Monaco approximately €40 million for the 22-year-old’s services.
Bergomi believes Kondogbia represents a great addition, arguing that the defensive midfielder offers Roberto Mancini’s side the kind of brute force that they have been lacking.
The former Inter full-back is now hoping that Nerazzurri also manage to land Atletico Madrid centre-half Miranda so that they can partner him with another recent signing, Jeison Murillo.
“It’s good that Inter are focusing on players with great physical strength,” he wrote in Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Professionals like Miranda, Murillo and Kondogbia can impose themselves on our league.
“I’ve said for years that muscle makes a greater impact in our league than elsewhere.
“We think of the Juve of Fabio Capello, a concentration of power the likes of which few have been seen before: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Patrick Vieira, Emerson, Fabio Cannavaro, Lilian Thuram.
“Or the Milan of the three Dutchmen: Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten, who were all over 186cm tall.
“Also, the team that Mancini is building is consistent with his history on the bench.
“Robero’s first Inter side contained giants like Ibra, Julio Cruz, Vieira, Marco Materazzi and other smaller team-mates but of no less force like Dejan Stankovic.
“We still have to figure out who they will sell but if the team remains like this – with Fredy Guarin, Hernanes and Mateo Kovacic – Mancini would have an incredible squad.”
Bergomi is in no doubt that Inter, who finished eighth in Serie A last season, would be capable of competing for the Scudetto next year.
“They would be able to challenge Juve – another very physical team – and fight for the Scudetto,” the ex-Italy international added.
“This Inter could also do well in Europe. Of course, of the greatest sides, the one with the least muscle is Barcelona, but here we’re talking about the exception to the rule.
“Of course, making the step up in Europe is not just about the physical side of things. You also need technique.
“But that is why the purchase of Kondogbia convinces me most because this is a giant with great feet.”