Goalkeeper Raffaele Di Gennaro considers returning to Inter Milan to be a “dream.”
Speaking to InterTV, via FCInterNews, the Nerazzurri’s new backup goalkeeper gave his thoughts on his return to his boyhood club, also noting that former Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar is his idol, and stating his great respect for departing Inter captain Samir Handanovic.
It’s official – former Inter youth academy graduate Raffaele Di Gennaro is once again a Nerazzurri player.
The current Gubio keeper first joined Inter’s youth academy system in 2002. He stayed on as part of the club until 2019, going on various loan spells as he began his senior career.
Moreover, during the 2018-19 season, Di Gennaro had been part of Inter’s first-team squad. He was the third-choice keeper behind Samir Handanovic and Daniele Padelli. Tommaso Berni was also at the club that season.
Now, Di Gennaro will join the Nerazzurri on one-year contract for the upcoming season. The 29-year-old replaces Alex Cordaz in the role of third-choice goalkeeper.
Raffaele Di Gennaro Calls Re-Joining Inter Milan A “Dream”
Di Gennaro opened up that “It’s a dream for me to return here to be with the first team. I started from the youth academy, and here I am again. I’m very happy.”
“I’ve always had a great time here,” the keeper added. “I played in the youth sector from the ages of nine through nineteen.”
“I won the NextGen Serie A and the league,” he noted.
“Then I went on loan for five seasons, I came back for a season to be the fourth goalkeepeer, before going on to have other experiences.”
“Now I’m here again,” Di Gennaro reflected. “In what will be my seventeenth year at Inter.”
Asked if he has a particular role model among Inter goalkeepers, Di Gennaro noted that “I’ve seen a lot of them.”
“I’m thinking of Julio Cesar in particular,” he continued. “He’s always been my idol since I was a kid.”
“But I also trained with Handanovic, he’s a top player. There’s something to learn from everyone.”