Zamorano: "It's fantastic to start the season with big matches"

MIAMI, Florida – At the presentation event for the 2018 International Champions Cup in Miami, Ivan Zamorano spoke to the media as the representative for the Nerazzurri. “It’s important for clubs to play in these tournaments, it’s also important for the fans who follow these teams all over the world. Let’s hope that it’s a big spectacle as it normally is when these huge clubs meet. It’s fantastic that teams like Inter can start the season with big matches which help you to get ready for the start of the season."

There was time to reminiscence on his time and Inter and more: “I have a lot of friends in football, Javier Zanetti first of all, and I was the godfather of his daughter. He’s an extraordinary player and an extraordinary person above all. One of the strongest players to ever mark me was Marco Materazzi who was playing for Perugia at the time. It was horrible to play against him but then he’d go to shake your hand straight after the whistle. The best advice that my father gave me is something that I’d tell to every young person who plays football and that’s that the best doesn’t always win in life so you always have to fight.”

Zamorano then returned to the subject of the International Champions Cup: “It’s a source of pride to represent Inter at the launch of such an important tournament that features big teams. In the United States, football is developing a lot and MLS is an important league now. There are big stars like Giovinco, Dos Santos, Ibrahimovic and Villa. I started as a professional at 17, I was young but I had heart and my career started when I was 20. Icardi is already one of the best centre-forwards in the world and I hope that he stays at Inter for many years. The team is developing, it’s also changing. What doesn’t change is the essence of what Inter means and the fans don’t change. To get back in the Champions League is extremely important to show what you’re worth in Europe.”