The Nerazzurri winger has decided the quarter-final of the Coppa Italia with Atalanta and is racing towards a starting place for the derby: he has signed a renewal and his quality/price ratio is among the best in all of Italy
Matteo Darmian does not make you regret Milan Skriniar. The boy from Legnano, who in the last two and a half games (i.e. after the expulsion of the number 37 in the 40th minute of the first half of the match against Empoli) took the Slovakian’s place in the three-man defence, was the hero of the victory with Atalanta, but above all he has become a symbol… of interismo. Because he, unlike Milan, accepted the renewal of his contract, even if “only” for one year plus an option on the second and not at the prices proposed to his partner. Agreed, the ages are different (33 years against 27) and the career prospects (Skriniar will go to PSG to play with Messi; Darmian didn’t have a similar courtship), but the former United and Parma has nevertheless earned the love of the Nerazzurri people. Not only for the three-point goals in the year of the Scudetto, with Conte on the bench, but also (and above all) for the constant performance shown when he was called into question. In Cremona and tonight against Atalanta the season could take a bad turn and Riad’s triumph in the Italian Super Cup risked being quickly forgotten by losing further ground in the Champions League race or being eliminated from the national cup. Matthew did not cheat.
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We were talking about the three-point goals in the 2020-21 tricolor year: at San Siro Darmian had scored those of the 1-0 final against Cagliari and Verona. Tonight he scored another 1-0 goal for qualification in the semifinals, where Inter will challenge the winner of Juventus-Lazio. Darmian was smiling after the ninetieth when he spoke to Mediaset because once again he knew he deserved the renewal: “I don’t know if it was one of my best goals – he admitted -, but the important thing is that it allowed us to stay in race for the Italian Cup. Now let’s head to the next match which is very important: we care about the derby and we don’t expect a simple match because the Rossoneri will have a great desire for revenge after the Super Cup. We will need to be ready and take the field to win. Rumors about Skriniar destabilizing for the group? I don’t think so and we proved it with a good performance. Milan is staying and will undoubtedly give 100% until the end of the year.”
QUOTE EIGHT
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Tonight was the eighth center in 91 appearances for Inter. Arrived from Parma in the summer of 2020 for 3.3 million including bonuses and commissions, it was a more than spot on investment. Indeed, an applause blow in the cost / performance ratio. Darmian is the classic player who gives his contribution wherever the coach places him and, despite the passing of the years, he has already covered three positions in Milan: fifth on the right or on the left, but also scorer in the three-man defence. And it is precisely this last position that he will probably occupy in Sunday’s derby. But beware of the physical conditions of Dumfries who has come out struggling with some muscle discomfort to be checked in these days: if the Dutchman raises the white flag, Matteo will have to move to the right lane and Milan (Skriniar) will return… against Milan. The certainty, in any case, is that Darmian will still be the owner: he earned the place and the renewal with important performances. He will stay at least until June 30, 2024; more likely until June 30 of the following year. Tonight the Inter fans chanted his name and Inzaghi praised him in front of the microphones: “Even last year I used him in a three-man defense – he recalled – and he had always done well. Having people like him and D’Ambrosio, always ready and training to the fullest, it’s a great advantage. Matteo deserves evenings like this because he always trains hard.” He is an example. On the field, off and with pen in hand, with a contract in front of you.
February 1, 2023 (change February 1, 2023 | 08:50)
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