Wesley Sneijder is enjoying his first time back at San Siro since leaving Inter, revealing Jose Mourinho ‘called me a thousand times’ to convince him to leave Real Madrid.
The 37-year-old retired midfielder is at San Siro along with Marco Materazzi, Samuel Eto’o and Gianluca Pagliuca, who were inducted into the Inter Hall of Fame.
Sneijder was at Inter from 2009 to January 2013, part of Jose Mourinho’s legendary Treble-winning squad.
“This is the first time I have come back to San Siro after eight years,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
“It’s wonderful, I saw many people I hadn’t seen in a long time. I am happy just to be here and the Hall of Fame award is just a bonus.”
The Dutchman was asked to give his favourite memory of his time in the Nerazzurri jersey and that Treble campaign.
“What we had was a team, a real team and we realised you don’t get far with just individuals. Mourinho called me a thousand times telling me there was a real team here, but no Number 10.
“I felt confidence here straight away, realising it was a team unit, and that make the difference.”
Is there anyone in the current Inter squad that fits the Sneijder mould?
“Hakan Calhanoglu is doing well. The important thing is the mentality of the team, who won the Scudetto last season and can win it again this year. You can tell they are a team.
“I just want to tell the Inter fans that I still feel at home here and the Inter fans are the best in the world.”
🏅 | HALL OF FAME
📸 It’s been a special day for the four #HOF inductees, who’ve been at Inter HQ and are now at San Siro, having received a warm welcome from CEO Sport Giuseppe Marotta and CEO Corporate Alessandro Antonello 👇#InterSalernitana #FORZAINTER ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/YxhwZkzUAQ
— Inter 🏆🇮🇹 (@Inter_en) March 4, 2022
Anyone irrespective of the team you support will love sneijder! His seriousness on the field of play is remarkable. I wonder how modric won balloon d’or and sneijder didn’t. I’m telling you those administring and voting the awards are a joke