New Inter midfielder Kristjan Asllani has said that playing for Inter is his lifelong dream and he nearly fainted when he got a phone call from Javier Zanetti, according to a report in the Italian media.
The player wrote a letter for Cronache di Spogliatoio which was reported by FCInternews and within the letter, he talked about a festival that he goes to every year which he had to miss this year because he had fulfilled his dream.
“Two years ago, before Covid, I was there for the umpteenth time. I love festivals and being a waiter. I ran sweating dodging chairs and mosquitoes to bring food to villagers, tourists and people flocking in from nearby areas.
“Two years later, well, I had to skip the festival because I fulfilled my dream of becoming an Inter player.”
The Albanian youngster then talked about the text that he received from Inter legend Javier Zanetti who is now the vice president of the club and the effect that it had on him.
“What a thrill to have received that message from Javier Zanetti: ‘Welcome to Inter, Kristjan’. I nearly fainted. While my best friends were waiting tables, I found myself in the same room as Romelu Lukaku to do the stress test during the medical examination.
“I was wearing an Inter shirt because Inter had just bought me. I have little understanding of those days, I’ll be honest: partly because the spotlight is not for me.”
He has been an Inter fan for almost his entire life and he talked about the 2010 Champions League final victory as being a key part of that bond.
“Parco Danielli and Piazza Garibaldi are the only places where I feel at home; partly because in 2010 I was eight years old and I was tiptoeing around the bar, among older people taller than me, trying to see a piece of screen with the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
“That night I realised that I loved this team. You could hear the chairs quivering on the tiles when Milito pointed at Van Buyten, then we didn’t understand anymore. I remember a few glasses flew on the floor, and I was jumping and jumping.
“It wasn’t a secret, everyone knew. I was an Inter supporter. Even though I realised my life’s dream, to wear the Inter jersey, I miss the festivals of my country so much.”
Kristjan Asllani has quite a rapid rise as he only had one proper first-team season with Empoli before he was signed by Inter.
He recounted how not long ago he was in the primavera and now he will be playing at San Siro as an Inter player.
“Within a year I won the Primavera championship, eliminating Inter in the semi-finals with a goal on a free kick; I scored my first Serie A goal against Inter at San Siro. And in the end I became Nerazzurri, even though I always was.
“I slept with the ball under my arm, protecting it with the blanket as one does as a child to shield oneself from the monsters of the night. I dreamt of the fans shouting my name at the moment of signing. A few days ago I discovered that it wasn’t a dream.
“My father took me for the first time to Milan to see a derby many years ago, we won 2-1. He went back there when I scored my first goal in Serie A, a few months ago.
“It must have been destiny, I’m waiting for him on my debut: let’s see what I get up to.”