Domenico Criscito has told Davide Santon to leave Inter Milan so as to rediscover that rich vein of form that prompted his international call-up.

Santon has been rotting on the bench this season, making his exploits down the flanks seem like an eternity ago.

The wonderkid has hardly featured for Jose Mourinho's side and was recently frozen out of the Italy team by Marcello Lippi.

Criscito, on the other hand, has enjoyed a great comeback, which has justified his return to the Italy squad.

"At Inter, Santon is enduring the same situation I was at Juventus," Criscito told the press.

"I decided to leave Juve so I could grow and develop. It doesn't mean I burned bridges because I am still half owned by Juve, which means they believe in me.

"It has given me the chances that were denied to me."

Criscito did say that he does not believe Mourinho's stance that young players are spoilt these days. The defender added that the coach was wrong to stereotype youngsters this way.

"It's not true that young players are spoilt, like Mourinho said. Everyone always speaks about [Mario] Balotelli and Santon, but no-one looks at the youngsters here with the Italy squad," stressed the starlet.