Parma defender Franco Carboni has spoken warmly about the role Inter played in his development, crediting the club and its staff with shaping the player he is today, while setting out his ambitions for the season ahead with the Gialloblu.

Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Carboni said he feels settled at Parma heading into the new campaign, describing the club as the most important thing in his life right now and noting that he had hoped they would bring him back. he owes the club a great deal and can only thank everyone who works there da quando siamo arrivati in Italia.

Franco Carboni signs a contract at Parma Calcio office.

Chivu’s Lasting Influence on Carboni

The most revealing passage of the interview concerned Cristian Chivu, with whom Carboni worked for three years across the Inter U18 and Primavera sides. Carboni explained that he arrived at Inter as an attacker, but Chivu – recognising what the team needed – repositioned him as a left wing-back after training, made him stay at the pitch to work on that throw-in fundamental, a skill Carboni had never practised before.

Cristian Chivu in a dark jacket with Inter Milan symbols and Parma Calcio logo.

The anecdote that landed: on the day of his Serie A debut at Monza, Carboni received a text message that read, in paraphrase, congratulations on the debut – but especially on the throw-in. It was Chivu. The detail speaks to a level of mentorship that clearly extends well beyond tactics.

Meanwhile, on Parma’s collective goals, Carboni was direct: the squad wants to repeat what they achieved last season and improve on it where possible, with Carboni himself noting he tends to his physical condition and mental preparation – including meditation, like his brother Mateo –