Category Archives: Inter Milan

Inter Campus in the most remote villages of Uganda

Inter Milan

ABER – Having crossed the Savanna and gone past the river Nile heading towards Sudan, we were once again in Aber, the latest Inter Campus centre to be opened in Uganda.

With the help of Marco Piccione from CUAMM Medici con l’Africa, the local primary school got involved in the project. 100 boys and girls from this farming region – which is very poor in comparison with the rest of the country – received Inter sports equipment and training from our coaches Alberto and Silvio. The school field, occasionally invaded by herds of cattle and situated alongside the CUAMM hospital, played host to three days of training and games.

The Alur tribe that live in this regon showed all their strength on the football pitch, greeting us with the chant ‘afoyo’ (thank you). On the way back, we stopped by to say hi to those involved in the centre at Nagallama, who were particularly happy with their new balls. They will continue their work there until our next visit. To thank us they gave us some pineapples which we’ll bring into the office so everyone can feel the beauty of Africa.

D’Ambrosio: “Learning a lot with Mazzarri and I give 110% in every session”

Inter Milan

APPIANO GENTILE – It’s now two months since he joined the Nerazzurri and Danilo D’Ambrosio spoke to Sky Sport 24 about the current period for him and the club: “I’m settling in quite well, although obviously I would have preferred to have won the last three games, but we know what we want. I’m here for the coach and the squad: I basically joined in February, coming into a team that was already solid and it’s not easy. But my team-mates have given me a really warm welcome. I’m happy and I thank the coach and my fellow players for the respect they’ve shown me. Naturally those who have been here since the start of the season have an advantage over me, but I give 110% in every training session to be ready when called upon.”

Why did he choose Walter Mazzarri’s Inter from among all the clubs that were chasing his signature? “I chose to join up with Mazzarri because I know the work he does with wingbacks. In a 3-5-2 his wingbacks are almost additional forwards. Plus he coaches a lot more forward runs – as well as defensive ones – than other coaches. He’s just as I expected him to be, off the pitch too. This is a not easy period, I’d have preferred to have played less and won the last three but we have the strength to keep our heads up and still hope to qualify for Europe. To what extent will whether we qualify for Europe determine the assessment of our season? In football, especially in Italy, the end result is what matters more than anything else.”

The Nerazzurri defender was then asked how it felt to become Thohir’s first signing: “I just think about playing, even if I were the second or third, I’d still be happy to have joined a big club like Inter.” He finished the interview by discussing this weekend’s match against Bologna: “Any team that comes to the San Siro has two results out of three. We’re a big club though so we have to win. Bologna are battling relegation and will do everything they can to perform well. It will be a tough match, they’ll be hard to break down but today with Mazzarri we’ve studied something to give them a problem.”

Aziz Bouderbala meets Inter

Inter Milan

MILAN – Aziz Bouderbala, a former star with the Moroccan national team, paid
a visit to Inter. In the morning he met with chief commercial officer Giorgio
Ricci and Inter Academy director Marco Monti at club headquarters in Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

Then in the afternoon, was accompanied by BeInSport journalist
Abdelmajid Sbaoui, Bouderbala was hosted by the first team at the Centro Sportivo Angelo
Moratti. There the ex-Lyon star encountered team manager Ivan Cordoba, captain
Javier Zanetti and players Rolando, Juan Jesus and Saphir Taider. 

Botta: “Football isn�t only speed, but also endurance and patience”

Inter Milan

APPIANO GENTILE – "When they told me Inter were interested in me I couldn’t believe it. And when I arrived it all came so quickly. I had spoken with Inter before my injury. There was still no agreement in writing but the club kept their word regardless. Walter Samuel and Javier Zanetti were the team-mates who helped me the most to get settled. They’re both great people who have won so much, and they’re also fantastic people off the pitch as well." Catch more of our conversation with Ruben Botta on InterNOS, airing now on Inter Channel.
The Nerazzurri forward explained why he chose the number 20: "It’s a number I like and one that wasn’t taken. It was Recoba’s number? Yes, I know. We’re talking about a player that I can only learn from. Just as I can learn from all of my team-mates every day, whether he’s a forward, defender or midfielder. Milito and Kovacic are the players that surprised me the most when I trained with them for the first time."
Regarding the Croatian midfielder, Botta explained: "I was impressed by how quickly he can beat his man. He’s incredibly fast, so much so that it’s very tough to mark him. Icardi and Palacio show a lot of movement. Rodrigo I especially like because he moves well on the pitch and always makes the right decision. Icardi has quite a physique and an impressive vertical leap. We have to be prepared to get on the end of his flick-ons and put them in the net." 
Then, on Italian football: "It’s very tactical. And after you score you find a lot of players in front of you ready to defend. It makes it hard to keep playing. It’s the kind of football that teaches you to play, and then later you’re ready for any style. My role? I always like to play behind a forward; whether it’s on right or left doesn’t matter to me. I’ve also played as a midfielder."  
Ruben then talked about Inter’s final stretch of the season: "It’s clear that qualifying for Europe is everyone’s goal, but we know there are some tough games coming up. We can make it with the group we have, but we have to do better than we’ve done in recent games."
Ruben Botta then had his chance to participate in Inter Channel’s Q&A segment.
What would you do if you hadn’t become a footballer?
"I would have liked to work with my grandfather. He’s a mechanic. I used to like to go watch him work."
Which team-mate have you bonded with the most?
"With Marcelo Cañete, who plays for Sao Paulo. He and I have been friends since we were in the youth academy at Boca Jrs, which is the team I support."
Are you afraid of flying?
"No."
What represents passion to you?
"Feeling something inside that comes from within. For example, as a kid when I went to the stadium I could feel the passion."
Do you have anything to say to the journalists?
"I don’t know. I can only say thanks for how I’ve been treated in my time here so far."
Your weak point?
"Shyness."
Strong point?
"Patience. Things will come, you just need to give them time. Football isn’t a profession of speed, but of endurance."
Are you superstitious?
"No, I’m religious."
Who is the number one player in the world?
"Maradona. Among the players still active, I’d say Messi."
What do you think when you wake up in the morning?
"Just ten more minutes… [smiling]"
How will this season end?
"This season all my thoughts are on playing, and I hope Inter qualify for Europe."

Inter Channel, Ruben Botta on InterNOS

Inter Milan

APPIANO GENTILE – Hosted in the Inter Channel studios to film tonight’s episode of InterNOS, Ruben Botta spoke about his first few months at Inter.

He’s already made some impressive appearances in black and blue but he’s still seeking his first goal: "I’ve been close to scoring but I haven’t managed it yet. I’m lucky to be playing in this great team and I can only get better."

To Interisti, the name ‘Ruben’ brings back memories of Ruben Sosa: "Unfortunately I’ve never had the chance to see him play. I can say that it’s a pleasure and an honour for me to be able to wear the Nerazzurri shirt. So many great and successful players have passed through this club."

On crossing the Atlantic to continue his career in Italy: "It was hard when I first arrived. I went into the season coming off of an injury and I was in a new country, but there are lots of Argentines here who have helped me. The fans too: they’ve been so nice to me I really can’t find the words to thank them. I was a bit afraid the first day I arrived. I’m very timid by nature and I had no idea what to expect. Samuel looked after me at the Pinetina every day and gave me a huge hand."

You can see the whole of Ruben Botta’s interview on Inter Channel at 21:00