Ex-Juventus player Lillian Thuram has expressed both excitement and fear around the prospect of Marcus Thuram moving to Inter in the summer, according to a report in the Italian media.
The Frenchman was speaking on the stage of the Teatro Sociale di Trento during the Sport Festival, as has been reported by L’Interista, when he explained that it would be great for his son’s development to move to Italy.
“In Italy, there are many great teams, so if he moved to the Bel Paese I would be happy, precisely because he would play for a prestigious club But of course, it will be he who chooses.”
There was then a much more distressing sentiment expressed which is that Lillian Thuram is clearly concerned about the prospect of his son being subjected to racial abuse from the stands in Italy.
“If he came to Italy he would risk more with regard to racism than in other countries. There is no need to confirm anything, I have been to Italy and I know how it works.
“There is homophobia and racism, the problem is there. People need to be educated, many don’t even want to be.”
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan has already been subjected to racist abuse from the stands in Serie A this season, as has Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Racial abuse from the stands is significantly less common in the Bundesliga where Marcus Thuram currently plays for Borussia Monchengladbach and this worries Lillian Thuram.