From Marcus Thuram and Benjamin Pavard to Mike Maignan and Olivier Giroud, this season the Milan derby has a French connection.

This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

AC Milan have had a strong presence of French players for a couple of seasons now.

All of Maignan, Giroud, and Theo Hernandez were crucial to Milan’s Serie A title win during the 2021-22 season.

Inter, on the other hand, did not have any representation from the French national side in their senior squad up until this summer.

But that’s changed in a big way. Two plays from Les Bleus joined Inter in the summer.

Marcus Thuram made the switch on a free transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach early on in the transfer window. Then, not long before deadline day, Benjamin Pavard completed the move from Bayern Munich.

Can French Strikers Thuram & Giroud Be Decisive in Milan Derby?

Already this season, Thuram has been one of Inter’s most important players.

The 26-year-old did not score in either of the Nerazzurri’s first two matches. However, he notched his first assist in an Inter shirt against Cagliari, and knitted play together with his linkup play.

Then, against Fiorentina over the weekend, Thuram scored his first ever Inter goal.

Now, the Frenchman will be dreaming of doing the same in his next match for Inter – the Milan derby against AC Milan.

One player who has already bagged decisive goals in a derby is Giroud. And this season, the 36-year-old has looked as central to Milan as ever.

While Thuram will be hungry to leave his mark right away, Giroud will be hoping that he can show that his influence hasn’t diminished.

And Pavard, as well, could be hoping to lay down an early marker in one of Inter’s biggest matches of the season.

The former Bayern and Stuttgart defender is hoping to start against the Rossoneri.

And he’ll be in the French national team camp along with Thuram, Maignan, Giroud, and Henrnandez.

The quintet are all fighting f0r the same cause during the international break. But as soon as they return, they’ll be vying to show which French contingent is superior in the derby divide.