Marko's story | A love stretching 1165 kilometres

The ride that led Inter to play in the Champions League final in Istanbul against Manchester City on 10 June was marked by many, many kilometres travelled. Both by the team, who have played in five different cities, and above all by the fans who have always followed Simone Inzaghi's men, in every match of the season, in every competition. Some have travelled 1165 kilometres, starting from a small town in Montenegro, from Tivat to fulfil two big dreams: to see Inter for the first time at the San Siro and to propose in front of the whole stadium. It was Marko, a Nerazzurri fan from the Inter Club Montenegro, who travelled there. The match in question was the Coppa Italia match against Parma, valid for the round of 16.

"For me it was the first time at San Siro in my whole life. When I proposed to my future wife, I felt great emotion and shed many tears of joy. For me it was an unforgettable day, an extraordinary experience. At the stadium I watched everything with amazement. The choirs, the unique atmosphere, the people and the warm cheers.

Marko's passion for the Nerazzurri colours began thanks to a particular detail of an Inter jersey and also thanks to a great goal scoring pair.

"When I was five years old, in Montenegro we had Italian channels on TV and I used to watch sports programmes on Italian TV instead of watching cartoons. Here it is normal to support Partizan or Red Star, but I supported Inter from the start. My first memory that ties me to Inter is the famous 1+8 on the shoulders of Zamorano's jersey. He and Ronaldo were my first idols and it is thanks to them that I became an Inter fan. The Inter story is beautiful because it unites all nations in two colours. It is a beautiful and fantastic idea and I am proud of it".

His greatest joy came in 2010, thanks to the Triplete. But for Marko, that success and those months have a much deeper and more intense value.

"I became very attached to that Inter team. I love difficult things in life, so I remember in my village school when my classmates used to make fun of me for some bad years. But then a lot of people started to support Inter when Stankovic and Mihajlovic arrived. For me, however, the passion has never subsided and it has grown more and more. There is an episode that moves me and that has been decisive and fundamental in my life. In 2009 my dad died suddenly and I found a giant foothold in that team. In those months my passion for Inter helped me so much to overcome a difficult moment. I experienced so many emotions until the triumph in Madrid. For me that is an indelible memory that I will always carry in my heart. It was too important.

Marko has now become an icon in his small town of 15,000 inhabitants thanks to his visceral cheering.

"Here in Tivat I am famous for supporting Inter and many friends in the days leading up to the final send me photos or news about the Nerazzurri. After the Triplete many here started to support Inter, but that's too easy. For me Inter is love, whether it wins or loses".

For the final against Manchester City he will be in Montenegro, but he does not yet know how to handle the emotions of this big appointment.

"I still don't know where I will watch the final because when there are such important matches I never know how to manage my emotions. Maybe I will see it alone or at most only in the company of my wife. I am optimistic, we are not in Istanbul by chance. Forza Inter!"