Striker Marcus Thuram feels that he has “grown a lot” since his arrival at Inter Milan in the summer of 2023.

Speaking in the official matchday programme for today’s Serie A clash with Napoli, the Frenchman described wearing the Nerazzurri shirt as a “source of pride.”

Striker Thuram signed for Inter in the summer of 2023. He came in on a free transfer after his contract with Borussia Monchengladbach had expired.

Thuram had his choice to join any one of a number of top European clubs that were vying for his services.

Among these were AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

But it was Inter who convinced Thuram that they would be the right next step for him.

In fact, the Nerazzurri had very much laid the groundwork for the move a couple of years earlier.

Inter had reportedly been close to signing Thuram in the summer of 2021. He would have been effectively a replacement for Romelu Lukaku.

However an injury to the striker caused the move to fall through. Thuram stayed at Gladbach.

Marcus Thuram: “I’ve Grown At Inter Milan”

Inter never forgot about Thuram, though. And Thuram never forgot about Inter.

The France international understood that the Nerazzurri had a clear plan for him.

Inter had identified Thuram as an ideal profile for the striker role in Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 system – and Thuram himself believed that his best position was at centre-forward.

And that has certainly proven to be the case. Thuram has been in rich goalscoring form in Inter’s front two.

Moreover, the 27-year-old contributes far more than just goals.

“Compared to last season I feel like I’ve grown in all aspects of my game,” Thuram said.

“Wearing the Inter shirt still gives me the same feeling as when I first arrived,” he continued. “It’s a source of pride, and a dream.”

“Playing for this club and winning matches with my teammates makes me proud of what I do.”

Thuram said that “As a team we all work towards one goal. And that helps create a winning mentality.”

“We work hard in training. We have a group that’s very united and that lets us train with commitment, but also with a smile.”

Thuram noted that “We joke around a lot on and off the pitch.”

As far as the teammates who he particularly likes to joke with, the Frenchman named “Calha and Arna [Hakan Calhanoglu and Marko Arnautovic] in particular.”