Zanetti Reaches 600

In 1995; a young Argentine wing-back arrived in Milan, as one of Massimo Moratti’s first signings as Inter president. And last night’s 1-0 win over Lecce was his 600th match for the Nezzuri. After the match, Zanetti presented a number of his captain’s armbands from down the years.

“The most important ones are those dedicated to Giacinto Facchetti and Peppino Prisco, two important people in Inter’s history. I would never give away the one dedicated to Giacinto because he was ever present and it’s impossible to forget him.”

“I’m very thankful to the Moratti family,” said Javier. “I was very young and unknown when I came to Milan. I arrived from a small club (Banfield) and it was very hard to find myself in a big city like Milan. The Moratti family’s faith in me was very important for me.

“I first heard about Inter when I watched Napoli’s matches because Diego (Maradona) was playing for them. In Argentina they showed the most important matches of the Italian championship. And my mother told me that she went to the stadium of Independiente, where Inter played more than one (Intercontinental Cup) final. After a match with the national team in South Africa, then coach Passarella called me to his room and told me that Inter were to sign me. I wasn’t expecting it. It was a friendly match in 1994, one of my first with the national team.

“I have arrived at six hundred matches now, but I continue to think about the next one, and I want to finish my career at Inter. When I look back I remember all the important matches and my team-mates. I’ve been lucky enough to play with many champions like Bergomi, Pagliuca, Zamorano, Baggio and Cordoba. And I will never forget the UEFA Cup final in Paris, when I scored and won my first trophy.”

At the age of 35; he is still captain of one of Europe’s biggest clubs, and still a pivital part, or, the pivital part of the team. He has seen numerous managers come and go, been through all the mid-table finishes with Inter, and now has three Serie A titles under his belt, all from the last three years. He has deserved success as a player, and Inter will be wanting to honour that by bringing home the one every player wants: the Champions League. As long as Javier is at the heart of that team, the Inter fans are happy. Any bade state the club is in is superfluous. And he plays his 601st match for the Nezzuri this Sunday in the infamous Milan derby.

FORZA NEZZURI!