Among the best signings of Inter’s last transfer window, Ange-Yoan Bonny immediately showed exceptional performance in terms of goals and assists in the Nerazzurri shirt. The French striker seems not to have suffered at all from the jump from an important team like Parma to a top club like Inter, and he discussed it at length in the interview given to La Gazzetta dello Sport. These are his words:
Bonny, what have you understood after five months at Inter?
“I’ve understood that it takes time to realize where you are, to realize how big this club is. Then, once you understand it, you have to realize the level of the team, which keeps rising, even in training: Inter is very demanding, it always asks more of you, but I feel great and I’m learning…”
What exactly do you need to learn?
“Playing with my back to goal, sometimes I’ve lost silly balls. Then improving my heading, but also my stamina, since we play every three days and work hard. Even more so during the break… In general, even the things you do well can always be done better.”
Who is helping you in this apprenticeship?
“There are many, but with those who speak French like Mkhitaryan it’s easier. Marcus Thuram helps me a lot and not just since we’ve been teammates: even at Parma his advice was extremely valuable. He pushes me further, as do the Italian teammates: they want me to always give my best without dropping off.”
What did you feel entering and scoring for the first time at San Siro?
“The first time was last year with Parma: I was dazed, the stadium is so big it seems endless, it takes your breath away. When you play for Inter it’s different, I was lucky enough to score immediately against Torino: after the roar, in the noise, you don’t hear anything anymore. It’s beautiful, because everything is muffled, it’s just emotion.”
Who was decisive in choosing the Nerazzurri?
“Last year, in Parma-Inter, the 2-2 match, Bastoni knocks me down and says: ‘Next year come to us…’. It seemed like a warning, but I liked it. He, Bisseck, Acerbi make themselves heard in training, they help push you further.”
That day in Parma, Chivu was also there: how important is he to you?
“Very much. In Milan the coach is the same genuine person he was at Parma, he has the same way of doing things and communicating. He always asks me to be available for others, to play first for the team.”
What would you like to ‘take’ from Lautaro and Thuram’s game?
“I’d like to have Lautaro’s hunger in front of goal: being at his age the fourth top scorer in Inter’s history is extraordinary. He always wants to score, whether it’s a beautiful or ugly goal doesn’t matter. Marcus, on the other hand, can do everything: goals, dribbling, assists. Maybe I have a bit more in common with him, but we’re different and we can play together. I’d also like to take something from Pio, few protect the ball like he does.”
What comes to mind when you think of the derby?
“In terms of charm and greatness, it’s like Barça-Real. Certain duels like Dumfries vs Theo have stuck in my mind. They are two great teams that don’t hate each other, but in those 90 minutes it’s a battle. Let’s hope that, in the end, everything is colored in Nerazzurri…”
But will it already be decisive?
“No, because it’s only November and anything can happen, but the derby is already important: being able to get more points, not only on Milan, but also on Napoli, Roma and the others pushing from behind, would be a big step.”
Back to Parma, how hard was it at the beginning?
“At 17, another country, another culture, another language: everything was difficult… Luckily I found a great group, I became friends with Bernabè who has great qualities, but the decisive man was Buffon: he spoke excellent French, he made me feel at home. It’s as if he were my uncle…”
Four goals and four assists: how many will you reach by the end of the season?
“I don’t have a precise number, in my head I want to do better every year than the previous one. The challenge is not with others, but only with myself. The only thing that matters is making the fans proud beyond the statistics.”
Can you explain the origin of that photo of you as a child in the Nerazzurri shirt?
“It’s the first shirt my mom bought when I started football school. She convinced me to wear it by telling me it was Eto’o’s team, my idol. Maybe it was a sign, who knows.”
Do you know that exactly one year ago tomorrow (today, ed.) you met Pio Esposito for the first time?
“Italy–France Under 21 2-2, Pio and I come off the bench. Here we immediately found a certain feeling because we are similar: we keep our eyes wide open, but our ears closed. We observe every detail to improve, but we try not to listen to what people say about us outside. Including Sucic, Bisseck, Luis Henrique and the others, we are a nice group of young players close-knit in a locker room that has known each other for years. It’s a new and beautiful experience, a world to discover together.”
Do you think the outside talk is exaggerated for Pio?
“When you play for Inter there’s more attention on everyone and here in Italy there’s a lot for him: he’s young, has great potential, was born in this youth sector, wears the blue shirt. There’s a lot of pressure on him, but I think he manages it very well: he hasn’t changed, neither he nor I like to show off.”
Do you like it, instead, when they call you… Angelo?
“Angelò. Coach Pecchia started it at Parma: when I played badly I was just Bonny, when I did well he called me Yoan, but he didn’t know how to pronounce it. Sometimes he said Jean, sometimes Johan… Then one day he discovered that my name also had Ange in it and I became Angelò for everyone. You Italians like to Italianize names: Mkhitaryan became Michele, Luis Henrique Gigi, but why ever? (laughs, ed.)”
And where does that pirate celebration come from?
“A game with my friends from my city, Tours, in the center of France. It all started from a Tik Tok video that made us laugh. When I scored in Naples with Parma, that celebration was born: it was a dedication, now it’s become a trademark.”
You are passionate about music and TV series: what are you watching and listening to now?
“I’m watching ‘Breaking Bad’, but it’s hard to finish, it’s so long… The last concert I saw was Drake, together with Marcus: really great. But before every match I always have Everything in Its Right Place by Radiohead in my ears. It may seem strange, but it relaxes and energizes me at the same time: it starts slow, calm, but then there’s something fierce inside. As for Vanoni, you already know…”
Ornella lets us know she received your shirt and wants to meet you soon in Milan.
“I’m glad she became an Inter fan: meeting her, being able to have a coffee or go to dinner together would be an honor! The first time, I heard that magical voice in a scene from Ocean’s 12: she sounded like Edith Piaf, she was so… French.”
By the way, to close, tell us one thing you prefer about France and one where Italy is better.
“French boulangeries are the best, I’m sorry, but I admit that having a bidet in the bathroom like you do is useful (laughs, ed.)”
