MILAN – Inter and Nike kicked off the new season together as the new playing strip for 2012/13 was launched at the Nike Stadium in Milan on Thursday.
Attending the event at our technical sponsor's official store were FC Internazionale managing director Marco Fassone, vice managing director Stefano Filucchi and team manager Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, as well as the eight players who modelled the new Inter Collection item by item: Rodrigo Palacio, Ricardo Alvarez, Philippe Coutinho, Matteo Bianchetti, Alfred Duncan, Samuele Longo, Ibrahima Mbaye and Andrea Romanò.
Broadcast live on Inter Channel, the event was hosted by Eleonoire Casalegno with over 100 reporters in attendance. Nike Italia's sport marketing director Cristiano Carugati gave the opening speech: "After welcoming Kobe Bryant here during his trip to Italy, launching the latest range of innovative Nike products ahead of the Olympics and unveiling the new Serie A match ball, it is with great pride that Nike Stadium today hosts another major event: kicking off Inter's new season with the launch of the 2012/13 collection. My sincere thanks go to managing director Marco Fassone, a friend of Nike's, whom I again wish all the best of luck in this new challenge."
Inter and Nike: 14 years together with mutual satisfaction for the sporting and commercial results achieved. Marco Fassone explained: "A bond was formed between these two companies many years ago and in a way we feel this is our home. I'm pleased that my first public "chat" is taking place here at the Nike Stadium. We have a fantastic partnership with Nike: Inter are very proud to be associated with their values and approach to sport."
Then, as highlights of Inter's Treble-winning season were shown in the conference room, Fassone added: "This is where we must start from once again - from these victories. One barren year doesn't mean the end of an extraordinary winning cycle."
It was time to reveal the Inter of the future and first up were Ibrahima Mbaye and Matteo Bianchetti, wearing the Training collection. They were followed by Longo, Duncan and Romanò sporting the Amplify Lifestyle range.
The official 2012/13 playing strip then took centre stage at the beautiful Nike store in the centre of Milan, with Ricardo Alvarez and Philippe Coutinho modelling the Nerazzurri Home shirt. Rodrigo Palacio rounded things off in style by making his entrance as an Inter player, by donning the red Away kit.
Cristiano Caraguti explained the choice of colour: "We were inspired by president Moratti. He gave us his thoughts then our colleagues re-elaborated them at the drawing board. Just like for Inter's centenary shirt, Moratti wanted to use the colour of the city."
Palacio greeted those present stating that he was "delighted to be here", before Ivan Ramiro Cordoba said a few words of his own: "I think that whatever I do going forward, I'm Inter through and though now. I'm happy to be here and part of this family."
Colours and passion, shirts and emotions, past victories and the many more to come. "This is where we start over," said managing director Marco Fassone. And it will be done wearing the "red shirt of passion", the same shirt that Cristiano Caraguti handed him at the end of the event.
