The vice president of Inter, Javier Zanettishared emotions and memories during the talk at the Salone dei Cinquecento in Florence, as part of the ‘Fair Play Menarini – The champions tell their stories’ award ceremony. Speaking of the many years spent in Italy, Zanetti said: “The most beautiful thing is the respect I received from everyone when I stopped. I remember Paolo Maldini who said I had been a fair opponent: I will never forget it. I fell in love with Inter from the first day at Appiano Gentile, when Ottavio Bianchi and Massimo Moratti were there. I came from Banfield and Inter changed my life. I came from a humble family: my mother was a housewife, my father a bricklayer. We didn’t lack anything, but in Argentina it was a difficult period, my brother and I were studying. I grew up with those values that have accompanied me throughout my life.”
Zanetti also fondly remembered the period spent working with his father: “It was one of the best moments. I played for Independiente, but they told me I was no longer part of it, so I started working with my father for a year. Then he told me to try football again. Those words were decisive. I passed the tryout for another team and that’s when I met my wife, who played basketball.
Finally, Zanetti spoke about the evening of his farewell to football, an unforgettable moment: “I was 41 years old, I gave everything and that evening was very emotional. In an instant, 20 years at Inter passed before me, with whom I will always have a special bond. I couldn’t ask for more from football.”