“I came to lift a trophy”

For Marko Arnautovic, the return to Italy’s top football club Inter Milan, announced on Wednesday evening, is also a journey into his own past. “13 years ago I was more a fan than a player,” said the Viennese, who at 34 still wants to take the opportunity to win titles: “I came here to lift a trophy.”

Despite a dazzling career, the exceptional kicker has hardly any titles in his collection. The most important ones come from the 2009/10 season, when the then youngster only made three league appearances with Inters Triple from league, cup and champions league. “I came here because I want to win something, and here at Inter you have to win something,” he confirmed during his presentation in an interview with the Champions League finalist, who borrowed him from Bologna for a reported ten million euros and, upon arrival, certain sporting factors has a purchase obligation. The “Nerazzurri”, who have been majority owned by the Chinese retail giant Suning Commerce since 2016, are trying to compensate for the departures of Romelu Lukaku (end of loan) and Edin Dzeko (free transfer) with Marcus Thuram (free transfer) and now Arnautovic. Large shopping sprees in the human resources sector are currently not popular at Inter. On the contrary: In the last three seasons, a clear transfer plus was achieved.

Provided that the reported ten million euros are correct, Arnautovic (“13 years ago I was a bit of a hothead, didn’t concentrate so much on my football”) is a “golden oldie” in the truest sense of the word. Because apart from Cristiano Ronaldo, for whom Manchester United transferred 17 million euros to Juventus in 2021, no player over the age of 34 should have been worth as much to a receiving club.

Debut right at the start

Arnautovic could make his debut tomorrow, Saturday, in the home league opener against Monza. About a month later, the 108-time ÖFB team player – Red Bull Salzburg would also be a possible opponent – ​​can look forward to his first Champions League appearances since December 2010. At that time he scored in Werder Bremen’s dress in a 3-0 win against Inter Milan one of two goals in the “premier class”.