Inter legend Cordóbа approves Stones move but hopes for Romero too

Inter legend Ivan Cordoba says John Stones is one of the defenders he admires the most, but still hopes the Nerazzurri will sign Cristian Romero as well: ‘He would complete the squad perfectly.’

Inter are ready to welcome English defender Stones as a free agent, with the ex-Manchester City star expected to undergo medical examinations on Thursday.

Cordoba: Stones a ‘huge deal’ for Inter According to various sources, the experienced centre-back will pen a two-year deal at San Siro.

“This is the opportunity. I said it long ago: he’s one of the defenders I admire most,” Cordoba told Gazzetta.

“If he then arrives on favourable terms, it would be a huge deal, a classic Marotta move.”

Cordoba is a former Inter defender who spent 12 years with the Nerazzurri, winning, among other things, five Serie A titles and one Champions League.

Despite the imminent acquisition of Stones, the Nerazzurri remain in talks with Tottenham for Romero.

“He would be an excellent addition,” noted Cordoba.

“He’s the right player to bolster the defence. I see a bit of myself in him in terms of determination and character, even though ‘Cuti’ is more ‘physical’ than I was. He would complete the squad perfectly.”

The Nerazzurri are still looking for a right wing-back as well, given that Denzel Dumfries has joined Real Madrid on a €20m deal. The Dutchman will play under Córdoba’s ex-Inter coach, José Mourinho, at the Bernabéu.

Inter’s primary target on the right flank was Marco Palestra, but the Italian joined Chelsea instead. Does it reflect the financial gap between Serie A and the Premier League?

“There’s a lot of talk about ideas, but the truth is we need to go back to basics,” Cordoba said.

“And by basics, I mean infrastructure: it’s unacceptable that building a club-owned stadium in Italy is so complicated. Facilities alone aren’t enough, of course, but they kick-start a virtuous cycle in which revenue generates further revenue. Look at Atalanta; they’re a prime example.”

The former Colombia international feels that the growing number of foreign players in Serie A is not the main problem of Italy’s top division.

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 29: Ivan Ramiro Cordoba of FC Internazionale Milano looks on during the UEFA Champions League group A match between FC Internazionale Milano and SV Werder Bremen at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 29, 2010 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) “Nonsense. When I arrived, Serie A was the most sought-after league; now it’s behind the Premier League, and even La Liga and the Bundesliga,” he concluded.

“The issue isn’t the number of foreign players, but a lack of courage in developing Italian youngsters. Look at Pio Esposito: at 21, we still label him as ‘young’. Yet, in other countries, strong players at 21 already have 100 first-team appearances.”