Andrea Pinamonti reflected on the early stages of his career with Inter and why he made the jump to Sassuolo in the summer.
The 23-year-old Italian forward left the Nerazzurri for the Neroverdi in the summer, joining on a loan deal with an €18m obligation to buy clause attached. He has started life well in Emilia-Romagna, scoring two goals in 12 Serie A appearances so far this season.
A product of Inter’s youth system, Pinamonti struggled to properly break into the first team and only made 15 appearances before leaving.
Speaking to Il Fatto Quotidiano, Pinamonti first reflected on his youth career and his long history with Inter.
“When I was eight I understood little, I only thought about playing. After four or five matches in which I managed to highlight myself, Inter proposed to my mum and dad that they all move to Milan.
“They wanted me in their youth system but there were many doubts and ‘no thanks’ prevailed. We found a compromise. Inter agreed with Chievo, much closer to Trentino. When I was 14, Inter convinced my mum and dad to move me to Milan.
“I would continue my studies and I could grow in the club’s youth team. It was the famous dream of every child coming true. For the first time I was away from home without my parents. At Inter they were good at making sure I didn’t lack anything.
“The club put a lot of faith in me, so much so that when I was 16 they offered me my first professional contract by joining the Primavera team, with boys three years older than me.”
The Italian forward remembered his Inter first team debut and how it felt to work alongside stars like Mauro Icardi.
“It was an afternoon in November 2016. I was in training with the Primavera. All of a sudden they stopped work and summoned me to the offices. I was worried that I had done something and feared a punishment.
“The first team was preparing for the Europa League match against Sparta Praga and I was told that Palacio had been injured. The coach needed a reserve striker and they chose me. I got the shivers.
“It was the first big step and it wasn’t the only one. Two weeks later Pioli also called me up for the return match and put me in the starting line-up. We had already been eliminated but for me it was the moment of trust.
“One minute you are a fan and the next you are a colleague of your idols. Training with Icardi, who was my idol, was fantastic. He was kind. He helped me.”
Finally, Pinamonti discussed his departure from Inter, his move to Sassuolo and his response to his critics.
“I think those who don’t consider me a big club player understand little or nothing. Do you know how many guys go the same route as me but don’t make it to Serie A?
“Or they reach it but come straight back? I think I’m one of the few youngsters who went from the youth teams to Serie A without ever having been in Serie B.
“I work to prove that I’m worth this division. I’m doing well at Sassuolo, I’m not just passing through. Sassuolo invested a lot to get me and I have a lot of expectations here.
“I want to conquer them but with mentality because ambitions can sometimes become limits. Here there’s the right climate.”
Pinamonti made 15 appearances across all competitions for Inter, scoring one goal in the process.