Inter Legend Nicola Berti: “Nerazzurri Need Statement Win At Napoli, Nicolo Barella A Real Leader” | OneFootball

Nicola Berti has urged Inter to keep riding their wave of enthusiasm by beating Napoli on Sunday night.

Antonio Conte’s side are 11 points clear at the top of Serie A with just eight games left, making them heavy favourites to secure the club’s first league title since way back in 2010.

The Nerazzurri won their first league match in Naples for 23 years last season and Berti has underlined the importance of picking up three points again.

“This will be a very important match away at Napoli,” Inter’s legendary former midfielder said in an interview published on Inter’s official website.

“It will be a big test of Inter’s mentality, because beating a team like Napoli would be another sign of just how strong this team is.

“Inter have an extraordinary mental strength now, they have built up an 11-point lead with great performances and by winning some difficult games.

“When you’re on a wave like this and you have their mentality, you do everything to try and keep it going.”

Inter took another huge stride towards the Scudetto by beating Cagliari last weekend, with ecstatic celebrations following Matteo Darmian’s late winner at San Siro.

Berti, who celebrated his 54th birthday yesterday, believes this could just be the start of a fantastic era of success for his former club.

“What’s important is that this team hasn’t been built overnight, it’s the result of careful planning,” he said.

“This means Inter can only get better in the next few years because the team is organised perfectly.

“The way the entire group went to celebrate Darmian’s goal against Cagliari together tells you a lot.

“It was a very difficult game, you can see something is being created here.

“I saw a bit of our Serie A title-winning team from the 1988-89 season in that group hug; this team has a balance and that’s key.”

Berti also had words of praise for Romelu Lukaku and Nicolo Barella, a player who is often compared to Berti for his attitude and playing style.

“I could have scored loads of goals on the counterattack if I’d played with Lukaku,” he suggested.

“Lukaku’s most notable qualities are his physical strength and his desire to score at all costs, and they were two skills I had as well despite being a midfielder.

“I’ve always liked Barella as well, ever since he was at Cagliari.

“He has that grit and positive aggression that I had, he’s a real leader and he has the most important quality in my opinion, which is that he never gives up.”