Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul believes Inter coach Antonio Conte is “one of the three best in the world,” alongside Pep Guardiola and Maurizio Sarri, "but don't ask in what order."
The Argentina international was speaking to the Corriere dello Sport on a number of topics, and was asked where his best position is.
“I like to play as a mezz'ala, either in a two or a three man midfield. I play in a two with the international team, usually with [Leandro] Paredes next to me. With Udinese I play in a three.
Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul believes Inter coach Antonio Conte is “one of the three best in the world,” alongside Pep Guardiola and Maurizio Sarri, "but don't ask in what order."
The Argentina international was speaking to the Corriere dello Sport on a number of topics, and was asked where his best position is.
“I like to play as a mezz'ala, either in a two or a three man midfield. I play in a two with the international team, usually with [Leandro] Paredes next to me. With Udinese I play in a three.
“All other roles I can try, but I only ever see myself in one position: a midfielder.”
De Paul has been consistently linked with a move to a bigger club, including Inter, Juventus and Napoli.
“Udinese gave me the Italian dream and I have a responsibility with a shirt that means a lot. Having said that, you are talking about a coach, Conte, who is for me in the top three in the world along with Guardiola and Sarri, but don’t ask me in what order.
“I am convinced, it will be point for point in the Scudetto race this season. There will be no great distance between them like in the last few years.”
De Paul could be reunited with fellow Argentine Lautaro Martinez at Inter, despite repeated links to Spanish giants Barcelona and more recently to Manchester City.
“He’s happy, he’s good at Inter, he feels at the centre of the Nerazzurri world. He’s found a coach who gave him total confidence, and it shows.
“The release clause [in Martinez’s contract] does not make sense when a player is getting the full support of the club where he is. I remember him when he was at Racing in the youth academy and he was about to take off, you could see it."
The midfielder is thought to be valued at €40m, how does that make him feel?
“If I am worth all that money, it’s you journalists that say it. For me it doesn’t seem to be a fundamental discussion.”