Javier Zanetti is worried at having to face Napoli’s Ezequiel ‘Pocho’ Lavezzi on Sunday. “He’s deadly.”
Inter welcome the San Paolo side tomorrow afternoon and there are no doubts over who the main threat is considered to be.
“When Lavezzi gets into space, he is deadly,” noted the Nerazzurri captain and fellow Argentina international.
“I had already noticed him at San Lorenzo and you could see he was far too good to remain in Argentina.
“Napoli got themselves a great bargain, because there are few around with his pace and dribbling skills.”
Lavezzi has scored three Serie A goals this season, but his main job is to provide assists, earn free kicks and generally terrorise the opposition defence.
“We cannot leave him any space, because he is a phenomenon,” continued Zanetti in the Corriere dello Sport.
“He already proved it last season when Napoli ended our unbeaten record after such a long time.”
Inter had not lost for 31 consecutive Serie A games when they fell 1-0 at the San Paolo to Marcelo Zalayeta’s strike on March 2.
This term Napoli have been doing even better, as they currently share third place with Juventus.
“They have had a great start to the season and are the undoubted surprise of the tournament. We must not underestimate him.”
Zanetti is now Lavezzi’s teammate at international level, as both play a part in Diego Armando Maradona’s Argentine squad.
“Maradona is a great motivator and nobody is better at helping us understand what it means to remain in the history of your country.”
The Inter star was the captain of Argentina, but the armband has been handed to Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano.
“I took his decision in a very relaxed manner, because you don’t need to have a piece of cloth round your arm to feel important to the team.”
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