🎙️ Wesley Sneijder on Inter's Scudetto chances, UCL glory and Dutch stars | OneFootball

Inter legend Wesley Sneijder believes his old side will have a ‘great season’ as they look to retain the Serie A title under Simone Inzaghi.

Speaking at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh the Champions League winner insisted the the Nerazzurri were ready to challenge again domestically but could come unstuck in Europe.

“I believe Inter will have a great season again,” he said.

“But the Champions League? Last season I had more of a feeling about that. This season is going to be more difficult because if you see the other teams, they’ve improved a lot. This season I’d be happy if Inter reach the semi-finals.”

A 95th minute equaliser from Junior Messias ensured that Inter drew with Genoa in their opening game of the season this past weekend.

But Sneijder is confident that with the help of some new blood, things will turn around in the San Siro side’s favour.

“They drew the first game of Serie A, but it’s the first game, right? They’ve got some new players, especially Piotr Zieliński in the midfield. They just need time to adapt to each other, but I believe they will have a great season again.”

Sneijder, who won 134 caps for the Netherlands, played for Inter between 2009 and 2012 and the Oranje’s connection with Inter remains strong to this day with Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries both at the club.

“They’ve both done great,” Sneijder added.

“Dumfries, there were some rumours about him leaving the club. He’s not playing that often, but I believe he’s a great right-back. Sometimes he’s on the bench and – I’m not saying this is the case with him – but you know what players can be like when they’re not playing; they start complaining and want to leave.

“De Vrij is doing great. He played in the EUROs and I’m not sure he expected to be a first XI player.

“But he did great at the Euros and for sure he will stay there for a couple of years, but maybe Dumfries this year or next year will probably leave.”

One of the most memorable moments for Inter last season came in January when they won the Supercoppa Italians against Napoli in Riyadh thanks to an injury-time goal from Lautaro Martinez.

Ironically, one of Sneijder’s other former clubs – Real Madrid – also won the Spanish equivalent in the Saudi Arabian capital city in the same month.

With both clubs praising the strong support they received from fans in Riyadh, Sneijder says the passion for football in Saudi Arabia is evident.

“I will be here (for the next Italian and Spanish Super Cups in Saudi Arabia), 100%. It’s not like in the last two years when the big stars came that the crowds came massively to the stadiums. They already were in the stadiums supporting their players and their teams.

“That’s not changing – but there’s more quality coming to the Saudi league. I’m happy for them. If in the future they bring more talented players then they can grow massively and become one of the strongest leagues in the world.”

Inter return to Serie A action this Saturday against Lecce as they look to claim their first three points of the campaign.