I was born during the legendary 1988/89 season so you could say being Interista was my destiny; it has moulded my character. And as someone who grew up with an
AC Milan fan for an older brother, it has always been a source of pride and identity.
I was five months old when Giovanni Trapattoni’s record-breaking side won the first scudetto in my lifetime; I was 18 when they won the second in 2007. In between I witnessed a lot of failures for us and victories for our rivals, but I never once thought of giving up on Inter. We aren't like some other fans, who only care about winning. For me, it is important how you win; I prefer good men to good players.
My brother’s formative years as a fan were easier than mine; the teams built by Arrigo Sacchi, Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti were legendary – and he never missed a chance to remind me. I’ve always been surrounded by red-and-black supporters: not just my brother but my best friends too. Trust me, it was very hard going to school the day after the infamous 6-0 derby defeat in 2001; it wasn’t much better after the two times we met each other in the Champions League, in 2003 and 2005. That said, in 2007 I went with my brother to watch Milan play Manchester United as I wanted to see Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo up close. That night I understood that football is something bigger: the performance of Ancelotti’s side in a 3-0 win made me fall more deeply in love with this beautiful game, beyond the colours and my Interista faith.
I was born during the legendary 1988/89 season so you could say being Interista was my destiny; it has moulded my character. And as someone who grew up with an
AC Milan fan for an older brother, it has always been a source of pride and identity.
I was five months old when Giovanni Trapattoni’s record-breaking side won the first scudetto in my lifetime; I was 18 when they won the second in 2007. In between I witnessed a lot of failures for us and victories for our rivals, but I never once thought of giving up on Inter. We aren't like some other fans, who only care about winning. For me, it is important how you win; I prefer good men to good players.
My brother’s formative years as a fan were easier than mine; the teams built by Arrigo Sacchi, Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti were legendary – and he never missed a chance to remind me. I’ve always been surrounded by red-and-black supporters: not just my brother but my best friends too. Trust me, it was very hard going to school the day after the infamous 6-0 derby defeat in 2001; it wasn’t much better after the two times we met each other in the Champions League, in 2003 and 2005. That said, in 2007 I went with my brother to watch Milan play Manchester United as I wanted to see Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo up close. That night I understood that football is something bigger: the performance of Ancelotti’s side in a 3-0 win made me fall more deeply in love with this beautiful game, beyond the colours and my Interista faith.
Still, I have the same attitude towards the derby that Bane has towards darkness in the Dark Knight Rises. To paraphrase: “You think the derby is your ally. But you merely adopted the derby – I was born in it, moulded by it!” And in that context, I must mention my all-time favourite Inter player: Walter Samuel. Not only is he a 2010 treble hero, but he also set a record by winning the first ten Milan derbies that he took part in. He was a silent hero. Never have I seen a defender with the skills that he had, allied to unbelievable charisma.
Walter Samuel set a record by winning the first ten Milan derbies he took part in
Other heroes include Roberto Baggio; I love the brace he scored against Real in 1998, coming off the bench to overturn them in just over 20 minutes. And to this day I try in vain to copy Adriano’s goal away to Basel in a 2004/05 Champions League qualifier. That night, with the sort of strength that only L’Imperatore could unleash, he literally broke through the Swiss side’s defence.
In 2010 I was fortunate to attend the semi-final between Inter and Barcelona at the San Siro. It was our turn to challenge, and I can remember everything: the tension of the day before; the wait at the stadium for kick-off; the suffering when the Blaugrana scored; the comeback; and then the incredulity after the historic moment I had just witnessed. Such powerful emotions!
I was born during the legendary 1988/89 season so you could say being Interista was my destiny; it has moulded my character. And as someone who grew up with an
AC Milan fan for an older brother, it has always been a source of pride and identity.
I was five months old when Giovanni Trapattoni’s record-breaking side won the first scudetto in my lifetime; I was 18 when they won the second in 2007. In between I witnessed a lot of failures for us and victories for our rivals, but I never once thought of giving up on Inter. We aren't like some other fans, who only care about winning. For me, it is important how you win; I prefer good men to good players.
My brother’s formative years as a fan were easier than mine; the teams built by Arrigo Sacchi, Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti were legendary – and he never missed a chance to remind me. I’ve always been surrounded by red-and-black supporters: not just my brother but my best friends too. Trust me, it was very hard going to school the day after the infamous 6-0 derby defeat in 2001; it wasn’t much better after the two times we met each other in the Champions League, in 2003 and 2005. That said, in 2007 I went with my brother to watch Milan play Manchester United as I wanted to see Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo up close. That night I understood that football is something bigger: the performance of Ancelotti’s side in a 3-0 win made me fall more deeply in love with this beautiful game, beyond the colours and my Interista faith.
I was born during the legendary 1988/89 season so you could say being Interista was my destiny; it has moulded my character. And as someone who grew up with an
AC Milan fan for an older brother, it has always been a source of pride and identity.
I was five months old when Giovanni Trapattoni’s record-breaking side won the first scudetto in my lifetime; I was 18 when they won the second in 2007. In between I witnessed a lot of failures for us and victories for our rivals, but I never once thought of giving up on Inter. We aren't like some other fans, who only care about winning. For me, it is important how you win; I prefer good men to good players.
My brother’s formative years as a fan were easier than mine; the teams built by Arrigo Sacchi, Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti were legendary – and he never missed a chance to remind me. I’ve always been surrounded by red-and-black supporters: not just my brother but my best friends too. Trust me, it was very hard going to school the day after the infamous 6-0 derby defeat in 2001; it wasn’t much better after the two times we met each other in the Champions League, in 2003 and 2005. That said, in 2007 I went with my brother to watch Milan play Manchester United as I wanted to see Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo up close. That night I understood that football is something bigger: the performance of Ancelotti’s side in a 3-0 win made me fall more deeply in love with this beautiful game, beyond the colours and my Interista faith.
I was born during the legendary 1988/89 season so you could say being Interista was my destiny; it has moulded my character. And as someone who grew up with an
AC Milan fan for an older brother, it has always been a source of pride and identity.
I was five months old when Giovanni Trapattoni’s record-breaking side won the first scudetto in my lifetime; I was 18 when they won the second in 2007. In between I witnessed a lot of failures for us and victories for our rivals, but I never once thought of giving up on Inter. We aren't like some other fans, who only care about winning. For me, it is important how you win; I prefer good men to good players.
My brother’s formative years as a fan were easier than mine; the teams built by Arrigo Sacchi, Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti were legendary – and he never missed a chance to remind me. I’ve always been surrounded by red-and-black supporters: not just my brother but my best friends too. Trust me, it was very hard going to school the day after the infamous 6-0 derby defeat in 2001; it wasn’t much better after the two times we met each other in the Champions League, in 2003 and 2005. That said, in 2007 I went with my brother to watch Milan play Manchester United as I wanted to see Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo up close. That night I understood that football is something bigger: the performance of Ancelotti’s side in a 3-0 win made me fall more deeply in love with this beautiful game, beyond the colours and my Interista faith.
Still, I have the same attitude towards the derby that Bane has towards darkness in the Dark Knight Rises. To paraphrase: “You think the derby is your ally. But you merely adopted the derby – I was born in it, moulded by it!” And in that context, I must mention my all-time favourite Inter player: Walter Samuel. Not only is he a 2010 treble hero, but he also set a record by winning the first ten Milan derbies that he took part in. He was a silent hero. Never have I seen a defender with the skills that he had, allied to unbelievable charisma.
Walter Samuel set a record by winning the first ten Milan derbies he took part in
Other heroes include Roberto Baggio; I love the brace he scored against Real in 1998, coming off the bench to overturn them in just over 20 minutes. And to this day I try in vain to copy Adriano’s goal away to Basel in a 2004/05 Champions League qualifier. That night, with the sort of strength that only L’Imperatore could unleash, he literally broke through the Swiss side’s defence.
In 2010 I was fortunate to attend the semi-final between Inter and Barcelona at the San Siro. It was our turn to challenge, and I can remember everything: the tension of the day before; the wait at the stadium for kick-off; the suffering when the Blaugrana scored; the comeback; and then the incredulity after the historic moment I had just witnessed. Such powerful emotions!
I was born during the legendary 1988/89 season so you could say being Interista was my destiny; it has moulded my character. And as someone who grew up with an
AC Milan fan for an older brother, it has always been a source of pride and identity.
I was five months old when Giovanni Trapattoni’s record-breaking side won the first scudetto in my lifetime; I was 18 when they won the second in 2007. In between I witnessed a lot of failures for us and victories for our rivals, but I never once thought of giving up on Inter. We aren't like some other fans, who only care about winning. For me, it is important how you win; I prefer good men to good players.
My brother’s formative years as a fan were easier than mine; the teams built by Arrigo Sacchi, Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti were legendary – and he never missed a chance to remind me. I’ve always been surrounded by red-and-black supporters: not just my brother but my best friends too. Trust me, it was very hard going to school the day after the infamous 6-0 derby defeat in 2001; it wasn’t much better after the two times we met each other in the Champions League, in 2003 and 2005. That said, in 2007 I went with my brother to watch Milan play Manchester United as I wanted to see Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo up close. That night I understood that football is something bigger: the performance of Ancelotti’s side in a 3-0 win made me fall more deeply in love with this beautiful game, beyond the colours and my Interista faith.
