MILAN – It may have been nearly 40 years since he played his last match for Inter, but Roberto Boninsegna certainly hasn’t forgot what it means to play in a Milan derby: "You could sense the derby in the streets. There was always a different atmosphere in the city ahead of the derby. It’s different to all over matches – absolutely captivating. The fans speak of nothing else in the run up to the match and the atmosphere rises with every passing day."
Boninsegna admits that the goals he scored against the Rossoneri have a special place in his heart: "Scoring in the derby is an incredible feeling. Obviously you tend to remember the derbies you won, but for a striker scoring goals is fundamental and doing so against AC Milan has a special meaning.
"I’ll never forget the one I scored with my right foot after just 14 seconds of our 5-1 win over the Rossoneri in March 1974. Back then, Inter and AC Milan were fighting it out for the title so the derby was worth double. A win would often mean you took the upper hand in the league as well as claiming the city bragging rights. I was lucky enough to score against the Rossoneri on seven occasions, which was fantastic," he continues.
The conversation soon turned from past to present and Roberto Mancini’s new-look Inter side: "The squad has been strengthened in the right areas and they’ve made a good start to the season. Mancini has the necessary players to impose his playing style, but he needs a few matches to grease the wheels as there are eight or nine new players and they’ll take time to adapt. Icardi could be the man of the derby, as could Jovetic, who’s already scored three goals. Long may it continue."
Last but not least, Boninsegna said a few words about Inter Forever: "Being part of the initiative is a wonderful thing. It enables you to feel close to the Nerazzurri colours, which I’ve always kept in my heart."
Versión Española 日本語版 Versi Bahasa Indonesia Versione Italiana
