Monza and former Inter Milan Michele Di Gregorio feels that criticism of ex-Nerazzurri captain Samir Handanovic has been excessive.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Il Giorno in an interview published in yesterday’s print edition, via FCInter1908, the former Nerazzurri keeper gave his memories of working with the Slovenian whilst at Inter, and also looked back fondly on his time at Inter as a whole.
Former Inter goalkeeper Di Gregorio has really been making his way in Serie A.
However, it has not been with the Nerazzurri. Instead, the 25-year-old has been shining for Monza.
Having spent two seasons playing on loan with the Brianzoli between 2020 and 2022, his loan became a permanent deal last summer.
This came after Di Gregorio had helped the Lombard team reach promotion to Serie A.
And, in the top flight, the ex-Inter man has continued to play a starring role for the Brianzoli.
The high-profile arrival of Alessio Cragno last summer seemed as though it may make it difficult for Di Gregorio to hold down his starting spot for Monza in Serie A.
Instead, it was former Cagliari man Cragno who found that his playing time dried up.
Now, Di Gregorio heads into next season hoping to build on the momentum from last time around. And, he does so still carrying lessons that he learned from Handanovic, and at Inter.
Di Gregorio Looks Back On Inter Milan & Handanovic
Di Gregorio observed that “I have great memories of my time at Inter. I arrived as a boy, and left as a man.”
“Now I’m happy to have found a new home at Monza.”
Of his former mentor at Inter Handanovic, Di Gregorio said that “Samir had some incredible seasons, even when the team were struggling.”
“Personally, I had the pleasure of knowing him,” he added.
“He’s not someone who’s afraid to joke around and laugh the way it might seem,” Di Gregorio said of the former Inter captain, who has a reputation for being very quiet and serious. “Quite the contrary.”
Di Gregorio noted that “I spent time with him on a preseason tour of the United States, I had the honour of playing alongside him and watching the way he trains.”
He also said the the former captain that “Some of the criticism of him has been excessive.”
