Former Roma midfielder and current Mayor of Verona Damiano Tommasi can feel the love that the San Siro give Federico Dimarco.
Speaking to Verona-based newspaper L’Arena in an interview published in yesterday’s print edition, via FCInterNews, Tommasi also commented on the role that former Hellas Verona coach Ivan Juric played in the 25-year-old Inter Milan wingback’s development.
After hanging up his boots, ex-Italy midfielder Tommasi went into politics.
Having been born in the Veneto region, the 49-year-old decided to run for Mayor of the city of Verona.
Tommasi was elected mayor of Verona in 2021.
But the former midfielder’s connection to the city goes back long before that. He also came through the ranks at his boyhood club Hellas Verona.
And Tommasi still follows the Gialloblu closely.
One player who has made a big impact in the recent history of Verona is Dimarco.
The Inter wingback spent two seasons on loan with the Gialloblu, between 2019 and 2021.
Dimarco is one of the players who helped Verona stay in Serie A for both of those seasons under Ivan Juric.
Tommasi: The San Siro Loves Federico Dimarco
Playing under current Torino coach Juric, Dimarco found an ideal role.
The versatile defender could occasionally deputize at centre-back in a back three, as he has done now and then for Inter.
But it was on the left wing that Dimarco really shone. And his performances for Verona convinced the Nerazzurri that he was ready for a role in the first team.
Playing for Inter, Dimarco has found a similarly perfect role under coach Simone Inzaghi as he had under Juric.
Starting last season in particular, the Italian international has been one of Inter’s key players.
And Dimarco also enjoys a special connection with the Inter fans. This is because of the fact that he has been one of them, ever since his childhood.
Verona’s Mayor Tommasi noted that “The San Siro loves him.”
“He has a wand of a left foot,” he said of the Inter wingback. “He’s a footballer of a European calibre.”
Tommasi also spoke about Dimarco’s development at Verona. “Juric did very well with him, but he was the one who did the rest,” he said.
