An Inter shirt in France. A child going to the stadium with his uncle.
A Swiss fan at San Siro to watch Messi. Sunday's match reveals stories of young fans who became protagonists... Luca, thinking about San Siro and the war, Ange-Yoan, watching the derby from afar, Francesco, arriving from Melegnano with friends. The men at Sunday's derby were once children, watching Milan-Inter on TV or in the stadium. Some were neutral, others wore scarves. Eight names, eight stories of young fans who became protagonists of their favorite match. No, not all of them are Italian (not even the first ones). No, not all of them play for their favorite team.
Luka Modric's loyalty to Milan began as a child, almost as a game. He was not yet 13 when his father gave him a Milan shirt: from that moment on, he wore it day and night, with the pride of someone who had already chosen his favorite team. Modric grew up admiring his eternal idol, Zvonimir Boban, the number 10 and captain of Croatia. There is a photo that says it all: Luka with a Milan shirt, a trophy in his hand, his parents on his side. A dream that took shape very early. At the age of 11, he set foot in Italy for the first time, in Alzano Lombardo, for a youth tournament with Zadar. Modric was simply a child with a lot of imagination, a ball at his feet and a fight inevitably in his head. Today, at 40, he is the beating heart of Allegri's midfield. Meanwhile, he keeps notes and remembers that derby 25 years ago, in which Boban scored with a brilliant shot from outside the box. Stories that intertwine, from one talent to another.
Federico Dimarco has always been a Zicaretti fan, though not through his father's legacy. "I started going to San Siro with my uncle and grandfather," he says, "I was 2 or 3 years old." It's impossible to be younger than that. His story is well-known: his parents sell fruit and vegetables in the Porta Romana district of Milan, and Federico is an Inter fan. Even before he played for Inter. Madonnina is three kilometers away, the stadium is nine. You can almost walk there. Fede celebrates Milito's goals, reaches the top of the table and starts touring Italy: Ascoli, Empoli, Sion. When he arrives at Parma, he plays against Inter and scores, then says: "It's a pity I scored against them because I'm an Interisti." Some in Parma don't take it well, very badly for them. And what about today? Today he is a symbol of the team, with the team crest tattooed on his calf next to the number 32 he wears.
Since he was seven years old, black and red have been his colours. For Davide Bartesaghi, Milan is home, a second skin. He grew up at Atalanta, but in 2012, a trial under Paolo Maldini changed his life. Bartesaghi is a boy who doesn't like attention: he's a quiet leader, he speaks little and works hard. His development also includes "punishment", but constructively. Once, during his years as a Primavera player, he was sent to the stands specifically for a Youth League match. Angelo Carbone, the former director of Milan's youth academy, gave him a speech. The gist: "You have quality, but you have to bring out your personality". Davide still does it today in his own way, without advertising, without fuss: essential. He lives in Annone Brianza with his parents, father Daniele, is a bricklayer, and at the weekend he starts for Milan. Not bad.
A strange story, a double twist. In the 1980s, his father, Darmian, was crazy about Antognon and did everything he could to pass on his faith in Fiorentina to his son. The mission failed. Matteo inherited his father's passion for football, but he did it his own way. He has been an Inter fan since he was a child, spending his days at the youth centers in Rescaldina, his hometown: "It all started when I was little, with friends. Inter has always been my only focus." Once, he was asked about his support and he said: "Inter is passion." The paradox is that Darmian grew up with AC Milan, from 2000 to 2009, even making his debut in the professional team: "For me, the AC Milan youth academy was a school of life; it taught me to follow the rules and instilled a lot of discipline in me, in addition to tactical and technical values. I became a boy and a man during those years." He grew up with a picture of Seedorf on his bedside table and, if football hadn't become his profession, he would be a pizza chef today.
Here's the picture, it says it all. On July 5, Ange-Yoan Bonny posted a photo of himself as a child on Instagram with the simple caption: "A child with a dream." Then, in an interview, he explained: "It's the first shirt my mom bought when I started football school. She convinced me to wear it by telling me it was from Eto'o's team, my idol. Maybe it was a sign, who knows." Fifteen years later, Ange-Yoan has joined Inter and has such a wide smile. When asked to explain his feelings, he says: "For me, it's a child's dream come true. I still have a hard time understanding it." That childhood reference again: a full circle.
Ardon Jashari has seen San Siro from many angles. At the age of eight, he watched from the third tier, together with his family, a 2-3 Champions League match between AC Milan and Barcelona. There is even a photo commemorating that special occasion. Other details: it is 2011 and champions like Messi and Xavi were on the pitch. That evening, Jashari made a promise to himself: “One day I will play there”. At that moment, he was a young dreamer, dividing his time between the Swiss youth teams. Fifteen years later, that stadium is no longer a dream: it is the stadium of his birth. AC Milan is not exactly the team he supports, in the strict sense of the word, but it is the one he has admired the most. This is also why, last summer, he chose Milan without any measure: he completely broke away from Club Brugge and took risks, only to join the Rossoneri.
Pio Esposito's memories outside of the Blues are limited. Pio joined Inter when he was nine and hasn't left since. Castellammare di Stabia is a place he loves, but Milan has always been his destiny. He even has a meaningful answer: "Who am I rooting for, Napoli or Inter? Inter, of course." Fast forward to June 2025. The younger Esposito played in Serie B with Spezia and is a first-team player for Inter. He was at the Club World Cup and when he played against River Plate and scored. Then he says: "It's the most emotional day of my life. I imagined the goal that night." Yes, that night and the 3,650 hours before.
What a life, Francesco Acerbi. Mistakes and redemption, failing with your team and reaching the highest level against the least tolerable opponent. He says: “As a child, I was a ‘Lion’ type.’ I would leave Melegnano with my friends and take the metro to San Siro: the last match was the 2007 Champions League semi-final, AC Milan-Manchester 3-0.” What an evening, that night. Torrential rain, like on the big nights of Berlusconi’s Milan, before that, the five goals against Real Madrid in 1989 and a crushing team: Kakà, Seedorf, Gilardino, Gattuso teaching Cristiano Ronaldo how to play when the Champions League is decided. CR7 will learn quickly, but that’s another story. Five years later, Acerbi becomes a player for his Milan, but he misjudges the opportunity: he wastes energy in the evenings, does not prepare enough and is sent elsewhere. After testicular cancer, he recovered, became a pillar for Sassuolo and Lazio, and ended up at Inter… and as a boy, he would have laughed. Today, at best, he smiles: life has taken so much from him and given so much more. Vittoria and Nala, his daughters, would be enough to settle any score.
t7 live
