Inter Milan defender Matteo Darmian recalls his time at Man Utd while also discussing his current experience with the Serie A giants.
The fullback started his career at AC Milan’s youth ranks before moving to Palermo.
He then had his breakthrough at Torino, which earned him a high-profile transfer to Old Trafford in 2019.
Darmian spent four years at Old Trafford working under the guidance of some of the biggest names in football, the likes of Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.
The 34-year-old discussed his time on English shores while appearing on the podcast of his former Inter teammate Andrea Ronocchia, named “Frog Talk”.
“I felt good in England. It was a big step for me from Torino into such a large reality,” said the Nerazzurri veteran via FcInter1908.
“It was very constructive. I spoke English at school level, I did four lessons and then I gave up on my commitments a bit. But now I can make myself understood.
“Life was a little more difficult off the pitch. I was alone with my wife but we adapted well.
“Van Gaal was a good manager. He was obsessed with the rules. We went to lunch at a certain time and one table at a time got up to pick up the food.
“He is a person who pays great attention to the rules and is also great on the pitch
“Then, Mourinho arrived. I spent two and a half years with him.
“Did I feel the pressure? I indeed represented a historic and important club, but the pressure isn’t as strong as it can be in Italy.”
Inter Milan Veteran Matteo Darmian Looks Back On Man Utd Spell
Darmian revealed that he doesn’t have too many friends in the sport. However, he names three teammates at Inter whom he is close to the most.
“Real friends in football are few. Plus there’s the fact that I went abroad and I got to know more people and cultures. But those with whom you have a genuine relationship with are few.
“At Inter I have a great rapport with Dimarco, Barella and Bastoni. We are a tight group and I think this can be perceived from the outside.”
The experienced Inter star reveals the much-maligned former Italy coach Giampiero Ventura as the most vital manager in his career.
“All my managers were all important. Some can give you something from a tactical perspective while others improve you on a technical level.
“Choosing one is not easy but I made the leap with Ventura at Torino. He gave me many things that I still apply on a daily basis.
“There’s also Conte, both in the national team and at Inter.”
Darmian Is Impressed With Inter Teammate Yann Bisseck
Ranocchia asked Darmian to pick the new Inter summer signing that he likes the most. The 34-year-old picked young German defender Yann Bisseck.
“They are all good players and made themselves available straight away. They want to learn and this is the most important thing.
“For me, Bisseck is excellent. He has a great perspective and great margins for improvement. He has already shown that he can fit in very well in this team. He also works hard during the week.
“Coming from another culture is never easy but he has settled in well. It is essential to have a solid group and beyond words. Having a good attitude is paramount.”
Finally, Darmian discussed his current experience at Inter while looking back at last season’s Champions League final.
“The first two years with Inzaghi were important. We continued to win trophies but the defeats were formative.
“I’m also talking about the Champions League final. In Serie A, we had many ups and downs, losing 12 games, but we have grown a lot in awareness and we don’t want to make the same mistakes again.
“Against Man City, no one gave us a chance. But we were convinced we could do well, and that’s basically what happened. We can hang with any other team.”
