Inter Milan GM Beppe Marotta admits Romelu Lukaku rejecting them last summer worked to their advantage.

Chelsea striker Lukaku turned down a second season with Inter before eventually joining Roma.

Marotta told Sportmediaset: “There is a component in life that is not considered much, luck. In this circumstance we were lucky: I don't deny that he was our goal but things then went differently.

"And we have set up a different attack compared to the project at the start of the transfer window. But we knew of Thuram's value and that of Lautaro's confirmation. Then we brought home a guarantee like Sanchez and then Arnautovic, an operation that found economic and technical logic.

"We are still the most prolific attack, demonstrating that playing together has paid off. Today Calhanoglu scored two goals... (against Torino)".

On coach Simone Inzaghi's contract, he added: “Our intention is certainly to extend it, from the president down, we all believe that his cycle is still in full swing and can find continuity and a future.

"Since he arrived he has grown and proven to be a winner, as well as being in symbiosis with the club and the manager. We want to consolidate the model."