Inter’s former academy talent Loris Zonta thanked the club today for maturing him as a player, as he prepared to begin his second season with Serie C side Vicenza.
Zonta was frequently compared to Claudio Marchisio for his playing style during his time with the Primavera, which he left two summers ago.
He developed alongside the likes of Andrea Pinamonti and Andrei Radu and helped the Nerazzurri win their eighth youth league title in 2017.
“I’ll always hold that experience close to me,” Zonta told FcInterNews.it.
“Inter helped me grow up a lot, not least because that was my first time living away from home.
“Perhaps I’ll be able to play for the team of my dreams again in the future. Who knows?”
Zonta recalled his first memory playing for Inter aged 14, when he was elected player of the tournament as the Nerazzurri’s under-16 side won the Scirea Cup.
His finest moment came with the Primavera in March 2016, though, when he scored a last-minute winner against Juventus to help Inter win the Coppa Italia.
Zonta said: “For me as an Interista that was an incredible emotion. You’re playing for the first time at San Siro, against an opponent like Juventus, you’ve always supported Inter and you score the goal that decides the match.
“That goal, along with the goal I scored for Vicenza against Ternana last season, is the most important of my career. It was all unforgettable.”
Rey Manaj, Enrico Baldini and Genoa striker Christian Kouame all impressed Zonta during his time in Milan, with the latter receiving praise for his ‘devastating development’.
Looking back at all his former teammates, however, three in particular stood out above the rest.
“Pinamonti, Radu and Zinho Vanheusden are just incredible,” Zonta added.
“They’ll definitely be good enough to play for Inter one day and will be key figures for clubs playing in Serie A.”
Zonta also had the chance to train with Inter’s first team, being included in their summer tour of the United States under Roberto Mancini in 2016.
“It’s a huge deal when you get a taste of senior football,” he said.
“I still guard the shirt I got off Angel Di Maria after playing against Paris Saint-Germain. What an emotion!”
Fredy Guarin and Radja Nainggolan are among Zonta’s favourite Inter players in recent times, but he also expressed gratitude towards the club’s under-fire striker Mauro Icardi.
“As the captain he was so helpful with all the youngsters who got promoted into the first team,” Zonta assured.
“I’d mention Rodrigo Palacio as well – he didn’t speak much but if you need anything he was the first to give you a hand. A champion with incredible humility.”
Zonta made 45 appearances in all competitions for Vicenza last season, as Giovanni Colella’s side secured an eighth-place finish in their Serie C group.
The Biancorossi qualified for the end-of-season play-offs but were knocked out by Ravenna in the first round.
