Just a few days away from the highly anticipated Italian derby between Inter and Juventus, an important former player was discussed in the pages of La Repubblica this morning. Despite never being considered for the first team, Michele Di Gregorio in fact grew up in Inter’s youth team, with whom he won many championships.
After various experiences that allowed him to grow in Serie C and Serie B, Di Gregorio‘s consecration came with Serie A while defending the colors of Monza. After lots of groundwork and exponential growth, last summer arrived the call from Juventus managed by Thiago Motta. Therefore, on Sunday, the ex-Inter player may face Inter for the first time as a Bianconeri rival.
Here are his memories towards the Nerazzurri club to which he will always be grateful: “Inter has done something for me that I will never forget, stood by me when, at 13, I lost my father. I arrived at Inter when I was not yet 7 years old and I left it when I was almost 19. It is an experience that has shaped me, because I was provided with educators before coaches, which made the difference when you start to think that training is a sacrifice, when you see your friends going on school trips, starting to go out at night, that you are missing out on a lot of first times. It was educational and prepared me to enter a Serie C locker room where the relationship was no longer with kids but with men of 34 or 35 years, for whom staying up is fundamental to supporting their family.
INTER YOUTH TEAM – “After winning the Primavera championship with Inter I thought I was already ready for Serie B, but offers came only from Serie C. I had to do a 360° analysis, not act impulsively and convince myself that I wasn’t diminishing myself. I told myself: if these are the offers, then this is my worth. I needed to take one step at a time. There was a time when someone believed in me more than I did. In Pordenone, for instance, I underestimated myself, after overestimating myself at 19. Youth football generates false hopes. If you’re in Inter’s Primavera, you already believe you’re a player, you’ve got sponsors, comforts, everything seems already done. I too went too far, but I succeeded in stepping back. If Pordenone is looking for you, it’s because you are Pordenone’s worth. Going back to Inter? I’ve really never expected it, but if it had happened I would have wanted to do it from the main entrance, I would never have made an appearance, but I bear no grudge.
INTER-JUVENTUS – “I don’t believe that Inter-Juventus will really tell us who we are. We are a new team, inevitably we need time. So far I’ve received very few shots and so it’s too early for a judgement about me. I’m happy to have contributed something with that save against Napoli. I felt at ease right away at Juventus, in fact when I came back from training I said to my family: this is my place. Funnily enough, I settled in here faster than anywhere else. When I drop my son Riccardo at nursery and drive past the Stadium, I can’t help but think how happy I am.
