Former Inter and Napoli coach Rafa Benitez says he was impressed with the Nerazzurri’s games against Liverpool and has one doubt regarding Divock Origi joining Milan.
The Spanish coach is a familiar face in Serie A, where he arrived for the first time in 2010, replacing José Mourinho at Inter. However, his time at San Siro didn’t last long, as he was sacked after just six months.
He returned to Serie A after one season in charge of Chelsea, remaining at Napoli for two campaigns where he won two Supercups and one Coppa Italia.
“I have a strong bond with the club I’ve coached, but I am a little more attached to Napoli,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It’s a matter of legacy, as the English say, Mertens, Koulibaly and Insigne are still playing a key role.
“My career is based on improving teams, also through transfers. There were no resources to improve the team at Inter,” he continued.
“The Coutinho case was emblematic. Nobody knew him at that time, but he turned into a significant capital gain. The same happened in Madrid. I launched Casemiro in a context where many footballers were not compatible.”
Napoli and Inter are now in the race to win the Serie A title. Who is Benitez’s favourite among them and Milan?
“There will be uncertainty until the end. Milan, Napoli and Inter have the same chances. I think Juventus are out, but I am sure they will finish in the top four,” he said.
“Inter must have continuity. I was impressed with what I saw against Liverpool. Unfortunately, you pay for mistakes at that level. Inter have the quality and the financial stability to remain at this level in Europe. They need to grow step by step.”
Benitez has watched Origi in action many times but has never coached him so far. The Belgium international is negotiating with Milan over a free transfer at the end of the season and seems close to signing a four-year deal with the Serie A giants. How does Benitez rate his potential signing?
“You can’t question the player’s quality, he has great potential,” he said. “The biggest doubt concerns how quickly he can adapt.”