New Inter striker Marcus Thuram opened up on his move to the club, his goalscoring abilities and why ‘the Milan fans will be angry’ with him.
The 25-year-old French forward joined the Nerazzurri on a free transfer earlier this month, penning a five-year contract with the club. He was also wanted by the Rossoneri, but they ultimately lost out to their intercity rivals.
Thuram now has the chance to play a leading role for Inter following their decision not to continue pursuing Romelu Lukaku, who was also secretly in talks with Juventus.
Speaking on page two of today’s Gazzetta dello Sport, Thuram first discussed his initial impressions of Inter.
“I found what I imagined before setting foot here, a great team, an organized club, high quality training sessions. I love being here.”
He touched on his first conversations with Simone Inzaghi and Lautaro Martinez.
“Not many words, but they gave me confidence, ‘we need you, you will help us a lot’, they told me.”
The Frenchman was asked about the differences between Italian and German football.
“Football is football everywhere, especially at high levels. But here there is more attention to the tactical aspect, I already knew that, now I have felt it with my own hands.”
Thuram spoke about the suggestions that he doesn’t score much or isn’t a true striker.
«You know how I answer? That last season was the first season of my career in which I was a centre-forward, before that I always played as a winger.
“It’s the role I prefer, for my game it’s better. I can stay close to the goal, attack the space, score goals, in short, my job.”
He was asked if he understood the importance of the number 9 shirt at Inter.
“I don’t care much. Do you know why? When you wear the Inter shirt, it’s the colours that matter, not the number.
“Even if you choose 99, 8 or 7, it would’ve been the same, you still have a great responsibility upon you. I have changed many numbers in my career, 9 was free and I took it without delay.”
The Frenchman spoke about his previous comments regarding his intention to become ‘better than Lukaku’.
“Since I spoke in that way I’ve grown, as a player and as a person. I’m just saying Lukaku and I are different. I respect him, but I am different, we are very different.”
The 25-year-old remembered his first time at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
“Certainly. It was a Milan-Juventus, Juve won with a goal from Trezeguet after a bicycle kick from Del Piero (in 2005, ed).”
Thuram discussed some of his conversations with his father Lillian.
“It has changed a lot compared to when he played in Italy. But he pushed me to choose this league. He convinced me by explaining to me: ‘It’s a country that lives for football, you’ll be happy with it’. And indeed, here I am.”
He confirmed that his father had an impact on his decision.
“Yes. We had several options in hand, we evaluated them all. He recommended Inter to me.”
The 25-year-old explained why he decided to join the Nerazzurri.
“I had already imagined wearing this shirt two years ago. And then I’ll tell you, Inter and their directors were very close to me even after the injury, they consoled me. I hadn’t forgotten this.
“And so now it was natural to choose them. Having the chance to start over what fate had taken away from me two years ago: incredible.”
He was asked about the reaction from Milan fans.
“Eh, the Milan fans will be angry with me… But never mind! Everyone makes their choices, I know why I did it.
“I’m not worried about the boos that will be aimed at me. It’s a derby anyway, they would have came in any case.”
The French striker underlined his ambitions with the club.
“The Scudetto is mine and our goal. We have that in mind, we work every day now to get there, we want to be happy at the end of the season.”
He was asked if he’d spoken to his former teammate Yann Sommer, who is also linked with a move to Inter.
“No, he’s too reserved, he’s not my age! I hope he comes, I’m waiting for him, but he never speaks…”
Thuram revealed which striker is his idol.
“Adriano, the most complete of all. He knew how to do anything, it’s him I’ve always looked up to.”
He commented on if the recent issues of racism in Italian football came into his thinking.
“No, not even for a minute. And do you know why? Because the moment it becomes a thought in the choice, it means that the racists have already won.”
He was asked if he would kneel in response to racism again.
“If it’ll be necessary to say or do something, I will not back down. But I sincerely hope that there is no need for it.”
The 25-year-old spoke about how he handles criticism on social media.
“I really enjoy social media, it’s true. Of course, it’s an open world, everyone has the opportunity to talk and it’s easier to do it behind a computer than face to face.
“I’m a public figure: let them say, it doesn’t affect me. But it also has positive aspects. And if I have to take stock, it is more the love I receive than the wickedness.”
Thuram discussed a meeting with president Steven Zhang.
“Yes, Friday for lunch. He hugged me, he told me that he was happy to see me here and that he can’t wait to watch me live.”
He touched on his impressions of Lautaro.
“I knew of his quality. But seeing it up close is impressive. He’s even stronger than I thought, he’s very mature, we’re the same age. I’m happy to play with him.”
Finally, Thuram discussed his desire to score more than 13 goals next season.
“I work for this. When you start a season, it’s always to do better than in the past, right?”