Handanovic opens up about Onana’s signing and Conte’s help

Inter captain Samir Handanovic is ‘not bothered’ by the signing of André Onana and admits Antonio Conte changed Inter’s mentality.

Onana is set to join Inter as a free agent from Ajax in June. He has already reached an agreement with the Nerazzurri and underwent his medicals with the Serie A giants last week.

“It doesn’t bother me. The competition in the role is welcome if one or the other goalkeeper improves,” Handanovic said at a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Supercup Final between Inter and Juventus.

“What’s important is to have self-confidence, I don’t have long-term plans, I live day by day, it feels like the best thing to me.”

Handanovic’s contract expires at the end of the season, but according to multiple reports in Italy, the Nerazzurri will soon sit down with their captain to offer him a one-year contract extension.

If Handanovic puts pen to paper on a new agreement, he will help Onana settle in and Inzaghi will rotate them in league and cup games in 2022-23.

The Nerazzurri picked up a 1-1 draw against the Old Lady in October. Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri is now trying to put pressure on the Nerazzurri, saying that they are the favourite to win the game and the Serie A title.

“It’s a derby d’Italia offering a title. Both teams want to win. We will play it with the same commitment as the last two months,” the veteran goalkeeper replied.

“We expect a determined Juventus because that’s what they are every time they come here. We expect a difficult game, it doesn’t matter who is the favourite.

“Now we have a different mentality, the last two seasons helped us. We want to win trophies and everyone is proving it,” Handanovic continued.

“However we play in a different way this season, there are fewer schemes and concepts, but you only have fun if you win. We must be careful because in football everything can change in a week.

“The season is still long and we can’t take anything for granted, we must continue to do what we are doing.”