Goalkeeper Yann Sommer impressed Inter Milan Sporting Director Piero Ausilio with his knowledge of the Italian language during the summer.
The 35-year-old spoke to German tabloid Sport Bild, via FCInterNews. He revealed that he had already had some grasp of Italian before joining the Nerazzurri, and that this has helped him settle in.
On the pitch, Swiss international Sommer certainly hasn’t had much trouble settling in at Inter.
The former Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern Munich keeper has kept more clean sheets than he has conceded goals for the Nerazzurri so far.
Inter signed Sommer to make an instant impact. The veteran keeper is not exactly a prospect for the future, but the Nerazzurri put their faith in him to replace Andre Onana in the best way possible in the short term.
And as the player himself has revealed, there is a particular off-the-pitch detail that really convince the Inter directors that he would be the right man to fit in right away.
Sommer is Swiss and a native German speaker. He has played for nearly a decade in the Bundesliga as well.
But that is not the only language that the 35-year-old has some proficiency with.
Yann Sommer: Impressed Inter Sporting Director Piero Ausilio With Knowledge Of Italian
Sommer said that his Italian speaking surprised Inter Sporting Director Ausilio.
“Before moving here, I knew a bit of Italian,” the Swiss said.
“When things with Inter became more concrete, I intensified my learning,” he continued.
Sommer explained that “I’m now taking additional online courses. And I’m slowly improving.”
And the 35-year-old is also happy with the transition to life in Italy in his personal life.
“We found a place for our children to go to nursery school,” Sommer said.
“And a beautiful house between Milan and Switzerland.”
He noted that “Our training ground is located about 45 minutes drive from the city centre. Ao it made sense for us to move to that area.”
