"In Milan, you can truly be friends with someone from the other side and even show it in public, as long as you remember that on the pitch, no prisoners are taken. The law that governs Inter-Milan is ancient, written in this noble history, and Sunday will certainly be no different. Yesterday as today, there are always threads connecting the two dressing rooms, enduring relationships that transcend tensions over 90 minutes."
"For example, Petar Sucic and Luka Modric, 18 years apart and both Croatian nationals, are two compatriots who found themselves in the city during the summer by a twist of fate. In recent years, however, the derby has often felt like the Italian arm of Clairefontaine, about 60km southwest of Paris, where the French national team gather. For Marcus Thuram and Mike Maignan, their friendship began before they arrived in Milano, and has survived since."
Paolo Maldini explained the unique nature of the Derby della Madonnina to Alessandro Nesta, who arrived from Rome with very different derby experiences. In Milan, players can be genuine friends across the Inter–Milan divide and even show it publicly, while remaining uncompromising on the pitch. An ancient code governs the rivalry, with mutual respect forming the baseline beneath hostilities. Enduring relationships and threads between dressing rooms transcend the ninety minutes of competition. Many modern friendships among Milan and Inter players originate abroad, exemplified by Petar Sucic and Luka Modric, and by Marcus Thuram’s bond with Mike Maignan. Adrien Rabiot and Thuram maintain close contact, and Hakan Calhanoglu remains close to Alexis Saelemaekers despite crossing the divide.
Read at SempreMilan
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