Christian Vieri backs Lookman at Inter & picks Chelsea to win Premier League

Serie A and Italy legend Christian Vieri has given a lengthy interview to the Gazzetta dello Sport where he praised the work of Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, backing the Blues to lift the 2025-26 Premier League and claiming “for now Inter have the best squad” in Serie A, “especially if they land Lookman” but that “signing De Bruyne speaks for itself” for Napoli.

Vieri also said that he “hopes” new Inter head coach Cristian Chivu will get “more time than clubs like Inter, Milan and Juve usually give in Italy.”

“Lookman is a game-changer” – Vieri

Ademola Lookman has been linked strongly with a move from Atalanta to Inter, with speculation surrounding a deal increasing in the last 24 hours.

After praising Inter for signing young players like Ange-Yoan Bonny, who Vieri described as “very young, very fast – and when you’re that fast, that’s a real weapon,” he said that an “experienced” player “like Lookman is different. He makes the difference, he changes games. If you can get someone like Lookman, you get him – no question.”

Lookman scored 15 Serie A goals for Atalanta last campaign – marking three consecutive seasons in Serie A with double-digits in goals scored. Inter see Lookman as a strong opportunity to reinforce their attack ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Vieri: ‘Club World Cup a great tournament; Chelsea will win the Premier League’

Vieri was present in the USA for the Club World Cup and praised the “great tournament”, lauding Gianni Infantino as the “best president in FIFA history”.

Chelsea won the tournament, defeating PSG in the final. Vieri “thought PSG would win” but argued “when you win all the time, you get cocky. And then comes the slap in the face because there are others hungrier than you.”

Vieri was very complimentary of the work Enzo Maresca is doing at Chelsea, saying that “he worked with Guardiola for years, and it shows. It wasn’t just about high pressing, it was possession-based, organised football with fast players, quality and power, which always adds something. For me, Chelsea will win the Premier League next season and be a contender for the Champions League.”