Former France coach Raymond Domenech has predicted that Inter Milan new boy Geoffrey Kondogbia can take Serie A by storm in the same fashion as Paul Pogba has done.
The Nerazzurri signed the midfielder for a fee in the region of £25m from AS Monaco earlier this week, having edged out the likes of AC Milan and Arsenal for his signature.
In contrast, Juventus man Pogba is reportedly on the verge of leaving Italy this summer, with Manchester City said to be readying a £60m bid for the highly-rated midfielder.
With Inter also poised to sign Marseille man Giannelli Imbula shortly, Domenech says that both players can fill the void left by Pogba in Italian football - but especially Kondogbia.
"Pogba is still the superior player at this stage. He is already a Ferrari, just like [Arturo] Vidal, although he wouldn't know how to drive one ... but both Kondogbia and Imbula have the potential to reach his level, though. Kondogbia in particular," he told La Gazzette dello Sport.
"Kondogbia had a quiet first half of the season with Monaco but really exploded in the second half. He did incredibly well in the Champions League.
"But now the difficult part starts for him. He has to justify the €35m Inter paid for him. Psychologically, it will be harder for him than for Imbula due to his price tag."
Pogba has won three successive Scudettos with the Bianconeri and helped them to the Champions League final last season, where they lost 3-1 to Barcelona.
Shane Callaghan
