MILAN - Aldo Serena is the latest guest on Inter Channel's "Memorabilia". The former Nerazzurri forward told the club's official broadcaster about his spell at Inter and his time with the Italian national team.
"When I first started playing football, I was still working in my dad's factory," revealed Serena. "I never thought I could make a career out of it and I used to play in midfield before becoming a forward. I was playing in Serie B and then Inter signed me from Como. I represented a number of different teams but Inter remained my parent club. I went to Bari before returning to the Nerazzurri the following year. I often come off the bench and that season I scored twice in the league and once in the Coppa Italia final against Torino."
After a brief loan spell at AC Milan, it was back to Inter: "I returned to the club with Gigi Radice as coach and he really rated me. Along with Trapattoni, he's one of the coaches with whom I shared great mutual respect."
From there it was on to Torino and a famous second-place finish: "Pellegrini decided to loan me to Udinese but I refused as I wanted to join up with Radice at Torino. He knew what I was all about and we had a great campaign that season, finishing second behind Verona."
You then spent two years at Juventus before moving permanently back to Inter: "That team was getting on a bit and we needed some new blood, especially in midfield. I played alongside Ramon Diez and we dovetailed very well. Inter's German contingent were crucial that year and Brehme set me up for so many goals. Matthaus was a powerhouse, what a beast!"
The biggest goal of your career was probably your header against AC Milan: "It was definitely the one that meant the most because it was a big turning point in our season. We had to win that derby having been beaten by Bayern in Europe. We kept things tight defensively and tried to hit them quickly on the break.
What's your view on the parallels drawn between Mourinho and Trapattoni: "They coached in contrasting eras and the game was completely different too. They both knew how to get into their players' minds albeit via separate means. Trapattoni was less cynical than Mourinho but still very good at taking the sting out of awkward situations."
You won the league title once in your four years with the Nerazzurri, although you arguably could have claimed a second Scudetto: "We missed out on the 1991 title during that period under Trapattoni. Our European Cup campaigns were also disappointing and we went out over two legs against Malmo."
What about the national team? "I was first called up in 1984 for the Olympic team. I also played in the 1986 World Cup, before - thanks in part to the Scudetto I won at Inter - gaining more caps after that. I was also in contention for a starting berth at Italia 90. The Italian fans really got behind us and I can still remember the crowds of people when we were on the team bus."
You won the UEFA Cup in your final season at Inter and nearly added the league title: "We fully deserved to win the UEFA Cup. I have fond yet painful memories of the final against Roma because I dislocated my shoulder in the first leg and couldn't play in the return match."
Since hanging up your boots, you've carved out an impressive career as a football commentator: "I didn't think I would initially, it was a bit random really. I started working as a co-commentator and from there it became a genuine career."
Tune into Inter Channel tonight at 19:30 to watch the full episode of Memorabilia.
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