At the PUPI foundation event in Milano, Inter’s Vice President Javier Zanetti and his wife Paula who started the charity, answered questions from journalists reporting from the event.

The PUPI foundation is 16 years old now, it has been a great success.

“I would say that this is a period that happened with the help from everybody, which is what this is all about. When everything was started in Argentina, we could not dream of this kind of development. I have to thank the Italian people, we are a great family, we want to continue growing and helping children in need.”

What does an experience like this mean to you? 

“A lot, now it is part of my life. Also in my job with Inter I think about these social aspects that are so important and where football can give so much back. This is why I want the club to create a lot of projects in Milano, we already have Inter Campus which is a great success outside of Italy.”

Paula, of all the work you does this organization mean the most to you throughout these 16 years? 

“The PUPI foundation started in order to help kids in our neighbourhood. To see a foundation like this growing in many other countries is the greatest reward. In Argentina there was no place for children where they could eat, study and do sports, things that children in developed countries take for granted.”

What do you think about the support you have received from Inter fans? 

“They have always been there. Inter fans are really something special, I discovered that when I first arrived in Italy and they have always continued to be special. There is a sense of unity and we want to continue to do good things.”