Even Bonny, Martinez and Luis Henrique have never won a championship, Sucic and Akanji only abroad
The appointment is one that will never be forgotten. Every first time brings with it this ability to be unforgettable and at Inter five players will be able to savor this very sweet taste thanks to the first scudetto of their careers. The quintet of “newbies” is made up of Pio Esposito, Josep Martinez, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Andy Diouf and Luis Henrique. The big boy from Castellammare with the number 94 on his shoulders leads the group of tricolor debutants. He has put his stamp on this first season among the greats with 6 goals in the league so far. A number that made him the fourth Inter player to score more than five goals in a single Serie A season before turning 21 in the three-points-for-a-win era, after Nicola Ventola (6 in 1998-99), Obafemi Martins (7 in 2003-04 and 11 in 2004-05) and Mario Balotelli (8 in 2008-09 and 9 in 2009-10). In short, Pio certainly did not make an appearance in this year in which he demonstrated that he knows how to stay on the pitch together with Lautaro, lighting up the attack with the Pi-La, and that he also has the right desire and attitude to try to carry the team on his shoulders in the absence of the Argentine captain and at that moment – around mid-March – in which Marcus Thuram was still not the prolific Tikus of the post-international break.
the first shield
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Pio, already extensively coached by Cristian Chivu in the Inter youth teams, has however never won a scudetto in the Nerazzurri Under. The first title that the first team wins as a certainty therefore almost takes on the contours of a reward for dedication, of recognition for immediately becoming a resource but without abandoning the mantle of perspective. Rosy, of course. On the opposite side of the pitch there is Josep “Pepo” Martinez who can raise his gloves in victory. The Spanish goalkeeper has a German Cup in his CV, won with Leipzig in 2022, but no championship. He is the man of the Cup, the continuity between the posts in the “other” home competition, the second to the much more experienced Yann Sommer who, however, has celebrated 6 championships in his career between Switzerland, Germany and Italy. Bonny, who arrived at Appiano Gentile last summer, won the Serie B championship with Parma in 2024, while some of his current Inter teammates celebrated his second star. The 22-year-old, who these days, a year ago, grabbed salvation together with Chivu, is preparing to experience the first joy of a championship, even if at the end of a season in which he was more of an extra than a leading actor. He will have time to make up for it, his coach’s confidence is unchanged. Twenty-two years old for him, and the same for Andy Diouf. The former Lens player will turn 23 on May 17th, the probable date of the “official” celebrations of the title (and, who knows, maybe also the Italian Cup). This would be a birthday gift to remember. Luis Henrique also joins this celebration of the first times in the championship key and is approaching the finish line with a mix of emotions. From happiness to anxiety. His words: “It could be the first big trophy of my career, a national title in Europe. I’m both very anxious and very happy. And I think it would be a good response to how last season went.” An opinion shared, even by those who were there at the time, such as Piotr Zielinski. For the Pole, the same thing doesn’t apply to the “novices” from before but also for him – who has already won the Serie A championship with Napoli – he would be the first for the Nerazzurri. Similar speech to Manuel Akanji (twice champion of England and twice of Switzerland) and the young Petar Sucic, another 22 year old in the squad but already champion of Croatia and before that of Bosnia.
