Inter Milan Legend Declares ‘I’m Not Surprised’ At Austria Star’s Dramatic Return To Form | OneFootball

Legendary former striker Alessandro Altobelli says he isn’t surprised with seeing Marko Arnautovic return to form for Inter Milan.

Altobelli spoke to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, via FCInterNews.

Marko Arnautovic has really proven his worth at Inter Milan over the last few weeks.

The 35-year-old had been linked with a move away during the January transfer window. However, in the end he remained at the Nerazzurri.

And since the start of February, Arnautovic has shown that he can play a decisive role for Inter.

First, it was Arnautovic who came off the bench to score the winner in a 2-1 Serie A victory over Fiorentina.

Then, on Tuesday, Arnautovic started in a Coppa Italia quarterfinal against Lazio. He opened the scoring with a spectacular volley in the first half.

Altobelli “Not Surprised” With Decisive Marko Arnautovic Performances For Inter

Arnautovic has often been on the fringes of Inter’s squad. Both this season and the last.

And there have been some intermittent struggles for fitness and form on the part of the Austrian international.

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Marko Arnautovic of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Coppa Italia Quarter Final match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 25, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

However, in recent weeks, Arnautovic has put all those issues behind him.

Legendary former Inter striker Alessandro Altobelli said that Arnautovic’s goal against Lazio was “completely outside of the normal.”

“But his performance wasn’t,” he went on. “I’m not surprised by the Austrian.”

“Arnautovic is worthy of being an inter player,” argued Altobelli. “I’ve always thought so.”

“He has an important role in the dressing room, and then on the pitch his performances are hardly trivial.”

“There had been a lot of talk about Taremi,” Altobelli said. “Particularly at the start of the season.”

“But I’ve always believed that the real backup to Thuram and Lautaro was Arnautovic,” the former striker argued.

Altobelli noted that Arnautovic “knows how to be useful even when he doesn’t score.”

“His teammates trust and love him. Did you see how he attacked the defenders?”