Legendary former Nerazzurri and Brazil defender Maicon feels that “wearing the Inter Milan shirt is a privilege.”
The Brazilian reflected on his time at the Nerazzurri in the matchday programme for this evening’s Serie A Derby d’Italia. He also recalls his own decisive goal against Juventus in the 2009-10 season.
Maicon is certainly a player who left his mark on Inter across six seasons.
Between 2006 and 2012, the Brazilian made a total of 249 appearances for the club.
Maicon’s time at Inter was laden with trophies. Nowhere moreso than the 2009-10 campaign, when the Nerazzurri won the European Treble of the Serie A title, Coppa Italia, and Champions League.
Maicon was at the very peak of his powers during that season. And so he made a massive contribution.
The Brazilian scored twenty goals for Inter. But they tended to be very important ones.
Maicon got perhaps his biggest goal for Inter against Barcelona in the Champions League. But the goal he scored against Juventus that campaign was not too far behind it in importance.
Maicon: “Wearing The Inter Milan Shirt Is A Privilege”
In the first Derby d’Italia of the 2009-10 season, Juventus won. They prevailed despite being in a very tough period post-Calciopoli, whereas Inter were the dominant force in Italian football.
And in the second meeting, the Bianconeri looked to be holding firm defensively. They could have secured a draw that would have dealt a big blow to Inter’s title hopes.
However, in the 75th minute it was Maicon who broke the deadlock.
Maicon writes that “Wearing a shirt like Inter’s is a privilege.”
“There are a lot of emotional memories that bind me to this club,” he continues. “The first is certainly when I arrived, because they gave me the opportunity to wear these colours.”
“Then there’s when we won the Champions League – a day that went down in history.”
“But then there are also the goals…” Maicon writes.
The Brazilian names his most memorable goals for Inter. “There’s the one in the derby,” he writes. “Because I wanted to score in that fixture at all costs.”
“And then there’s the one against Juventus,” Maicon looks back.
“It was nearly the end of the season. It was a beautiful goal, and it gave us a huge boost because from there on, in my view, we got one hand on the title.”
“Finally, there’s my goal in the semifinal against Barcelona.”
“I remember Pandev getting forward there,” Maicon recalls. “Then the ball for Milito, who crossed it to me inside the area.”
“It was a massive moment that I experienced in this shirt.”