Italian Journalist Paolo Condo: ‘Inter Milan Told Marcus Thuram To Replace Edin Dzeko, Then Romelu Lukaku As Well'

Italian journalist Paolo Condo feels that Marcus Thuram has effectively had to replace both Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku at Inter Milan.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInter1908, the pundit noted how the circumstances surrounding Thuram’s arrival at the Nerazzurri have put a lot of pressure on him in his attacking role.

Thuram joined Inter on a free transfer at the start of July after his contract with Borussia Monchengladbach expired.

This followed the departure of Edin Dzeko.

The timing of these outgoing and incoming moves was not a coincidence.

When Dzeko left, there was a big vacancy for Inter to fill in attack. The Bosnian former Roma and Manchester City striker had been a regular starter for the Nerazzurri last season and was a player with significant quality.

And Dzeko’s departure also freed up a lot of space on Inter’s wage bill.

Therefore, it was feasible for the Nerazzurri to invest big in the wages of a player like Thuram without paying a transfer fee in the process.

As such, Thuram essentially came in as a replacement for Dzeko. It may not have been a perfectly like-for-like replacement, but he took the veteran striker’s place in the squad.

Condo: Thuram Replacing Both Dzeko & Lukaku At Inter

When Thuram signed for Inter, it still seemed as though Romelu Lukaku would also be joining.

The Nerazzurri were at that time still working on signing the Belgian from Chelsea on a permanent basis.

Therefore, Inter’s intention seemed to be to have an attack that included both Thuram and Lukaku in it.

But of course, that’s not how things panned out. Inter’s relationship with Lukaku collapsed in spectacular fashion.

And then it ended up being Marko Arnautovic who joined as the Nerazzurri’s final attacking signing of the summer.

Condo noted that “They told him that he was to replace Dzeko. A striker who plays brilliantly with the whole team, but doesn’t offer that much in the area.”

“And then a few days later they told him he had to also replace Lukaku after what happened.”