Only one current Inter Milan player, according to midfield legend Wesley Sneijder, has even a shot at making it into that iconic 2010 Treble-winning team. Yeah, you read that right. The man who was central to Jose Mourinho’s historic squad isn’t pulling any punches, and his assessment drops just as Inter gears up for a massive week against Napoli and Real Madrid. This isn’t just about winning games; it’s about proving their place on the world stage, especially after last season’s domestic Double.
Inter’s Chance to Send a Message
This upcoming stretch is huge for Inter, and Sneijder knows it. They are set to host Napoli in Serie A at San Siro, then travel to face Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in the Champions League. Sneijder sees the Napoli game as the perfect prep for the Bernabéu clash. He’s saying the players *have* to be at 100 percent, no exceptions. Why? Because if they beat Napoli and get a result against Real Madrid, they’re not just winning games. They would launch their candidacy for the Champions League Final *and* winning the Scudetto. That’s a bold claim, but if anyone knows what it takes to dominate, it’s Sneijder. This isn’t just a couple of matches, it’s a chance for Inter to tell the whole world they’re for real this season.
The Treble Team Comparison Is Brutal
Here’s where Sneijder really holds nothing back. Inter took home the domestic Double of the Scudetto and Coppa Italia last season, which is awesome, right? But the former midfielder has absolutely no time for comparisons between this squad and the 2010 Treble team. He’s straight up saying, “The current squad is nothing like the Treble team, we truly had everything then, it is not a group that can be repeated.” Ouch. He even goes further, saying, “None of the current team would make it into the 2010 side. Well, maybe Lautaro Martinez.” “Maybe!” That’s a huge statement coming from a guy who lived that Treble glory. It really makes you wonder just how stacked that 2010 team was if last season’s Double winners can barely scrape by his approval.
Reunions and Real Talk
It’s not all about comparing squads, though. This Champions League trip to the Bernabéu is also a reunion with Denzel Dumfries, who left Inter for Real Madrid this summer. Sneijder’s take on that move? Typical Real Madrid gravity: “When Real Madrid call, you go.” He also lays down the gauntlet for Dumfries, telling him he has “to do better than he did at Inter, because Real Madrid is a bigger club.” High stakes and high pressure, but Sneijder admits Dumfries has the quality to handle it. Plus, we can’t forget Cristian Chivu, the current Nerazzurri coach, who was Sneijder’s teammate and even roomed with him back in the day. Sneijder always knew Chivu would be a great coach, even if he was “quite dull” and “only ever talked about football.” This week for Inter is about sending a message to the world, proving they belong, and maybe, just maybe, showing Sneijder that more than *one* guy could hang with his legendary squad.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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