Ex Inter Milan Captain Recalls His Time At The Club, Identifies Ex AC Milan & Juventus Strikers As Toughest Opponents: “The Strongest” | OneFootball

Former Inter Milan captain Andrea Ranocchia opened up on his long spell at Appiano Gentile, making some revelations regarding his old teammates.

The Nerazzurri snapped up the defender following his breakthrough captain at Bari. He had formed a golden partnership with Leonardo Bonucci at the San Nicola Stadium.

Ranocchia admits the Juventus legend went on to enjoy a more prosperous career contrary to initial expectations.

“Everyone said I was the stronger of the two,” said Ranocchia during his appearance as a guest of the Inter Club of the Istituto dei Tumori in Milan (via FcInterNews).

“But in the end, Leo proved he was better after all.”

The retired defender revealed how he first met Antonio Conte during their time together at Arezzo.

“When I was 17, I was in Arezzo’s youth team. This is when I first met Antonio Conte who was coaching the first team in Serie B,”

“One evening, he told me ‘Boy, get ready, you’ll be a starter on Saturday.

Andrea Ranocchia Returns To His Inter Milan Days

Ranocchia revealed Samir Handanovic was his most professional teammate, while Marcelo Brozovic was the joker in the group.

“Handanovic was the most serious. He’s an example for everyone. Brozovic was the funniest, a real joker.

The former Nerazzurri skipper then picked Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gonzalo Higuain as the toughest strikers to mark.

“Ibrahimovic and Higuain were the toughest. But one night, Miccoli drove me crazy.”

Finally, Ranocchia discussed the successive Inter managers, from Roberto Mancini, all the way to Simone Inzaghi.

“I had Gian Piero Gasperini as a coach for a short time at Inter, When we were at Genoa, he told me to mark Sneijder even if he went to the bathroom.

“Mancini remains part of the club’s history, while Spalletti dug the hole in this winning cycle of Inter. Conte laid the first bricks and Inzaghi finished building the palace.”