Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about his life, career, and aspirations. Speaking in a far ranging interview, the Frenchman talked about his love of Manga, growing up in a footballing family and his aims for the 2024-25 season.
Is this the highest point of your career?
“Yes. At Inter, I have total confidence. And it’s thanks to those around me: teammates, coach, club.”
Where do you want to and can you go?
“I don’t know. And I don’t think about it, it almost bothers me. What matters is loving, not setting limits. Why say ‘I’ll score this or that number of goals’? I still have a lot to improve.”
In what? Give an example.
“In heading, for instance. And in trying to go faster than I can. I already feel stronger than at the start of the season. And in January I’ll be even better. Today, for example, I anticipate a ball from Dimarco because I already know what he’ll do. The same with Micki. It’s knowledge, experience.”
If you weren’t Lilian’s son, would you be this strong now?
“No. He has been fundamental for me, when I was young and still today. With him, I save time; one word from him is like 2-3 weeks of work for someone else.”
But today, is he Marcus’s dad or are you still Lilian’s son?
“No, I’m still his son. And I’m also Khephren’s big brother. I’m proud of my family.”
Has it been a burden, being the son of a champion?
“Sometimes it has been. My father had prepared me, ‘They’ll judge you by your surname, they’ll say you’re only here because you’re my son.’ It wasn’t pleasant, when I was a child, to hear nasty things from the parents of the kids I played with. I would respond like this: ‘Look, if I score, it’s not because the opposing goalkeeper moves to let Lilian’s son score.'”
Have you and Khephren bet on who will win more trophies this year?
“There was a possibility of playing together when I was at Borussia and Nice wanted me, but it didn’t work out. No, no bet with him. I wish him the best. Well, not exactly the very best… Let’s say yes to him, but not to the team he plays for.”
Is he really stronger than you?
“Yes, he is. And do you know why? Because he can learn from dad and then from his brother, he’s lucky.”
Where does your passion for fashion come from?
“From my mum, she used to take me around while shopping. In Paris, I started to understand something, I saw what she was buying and I liked it. And then she enjoyed dressing me up in stores.”
Will it become a job?
“They’ve offered me to be a model. But I prefer it to remain just a passion, football already fills my days. Who knows, maybe after my career.”
A few days ago you were playing basketball wearing Kean’s jersey. Have you listened to his album?
“Yes, I sent him a message to tell him he did well. He had songs ready for a long time, finally he released them: passions should always be pursued.”
Who is your favourite singer ?
“I grew up with Michael Jackson, mum liked him. Dad loved Bob Marley. Now I’m more into rap and hip-hop. But those two are my references. And if I have to choose a song, I’d say Redemption Song: my dad used to play it for me in the car, it was his favorite, now it’s mine too.”
You’re passionate about manga. Who do you identify with?
“My favorite is Dragon Ball Z, the character is Super Saiyan 4: I love him, he’s fast, powerful. And then Captain Tsubasa (known as Holly e Benji in Italy): I was a fan of Mark Lenders, he started as a winger and then became a center-forward, like me.”
What did you feel during Bove’s illness?
“I was paralyzed, blood frozen, I didn’t know what to do. But it’s like a wake-up call about life. After the match, I called all the people I love, one by one, to tell them how much I love them.”
Do you feel that the show must always go on?
“Football is a business, people’s money is involved, there are those who want and need to earn. But we players in Florence stopped. We are human beings: these things can happen to anyone. And so it was good to stop the match.”
Is enough being done about health? Also from a mental point of view?
“It’s not easy for us to manage the pressure. But it always depends on the type of approach. You see, I really love football, it’s my life. Davide (Frattesi) is right, I heard his advice to the younger ones, ‘never take everything 100%’. Here’s the thing: if we lose the game component, we’re finished. Mentally, it’s important to be able to disconnect. For example, from social media: they’re harmful to footballers. When we mess up a match, we haven’t killed anyone, you know! It can happen, there will always be the next challenge to redeem yourself.”
At the Euros, you and other French players took a stand against Le Pen, on the eve of the elections. Why isn’t there the same sensitivity in Italy?
“I can speak for myself. It was natural for me and for Kylian (Mbappé). We are young, black, it was right to understand what was happening and then speak.”
Have you ever experienced a racist episode here in Italy?
“Never personally to me.”
If it happened to you, what would you do?
“I wouldn’t stay silent. Speaking has never been a problem, denouncing things I don’t find fair, the same. Then I don’t judge those who don’t do like me.”
What kind of captain is Lautaro?
“He speaks when he needs to. He never does it randomly.”
You are very different. How did you click?
“Precisely because of our differences. If he were like me, I’d tell him ‘oh, how annoying you are’. I give him something he doesn’t have and vice versa.”
Do you have a relationship off the field as well?
“Well, he’s married… When we’re far away, on national duty, we call each other. Maybe because we miss each other… before matches, after, always.”
You went to live in the house that used to belong to Fedez and Ferragni…
“I’ve heard it said…”
Come on, you’re not going to say you didn’t know!
“I don’t know them. Is Fedez really a rapper?”
Okay. Let’s talk about your idol, Adriano. How does it make you feel, seeing him today?
“I read that he feels happy in his favela, I see him smiling on Instagram: that’s what matters.”
You have an 85 million clause, you could decide to leave without going through Inter…
“But the figure is high…”
If you continue like this, someone will pay it
“I’ll say it clearly: it will never happen that I leave Inter by exploiting the clause, because of the relationship I have with everyone here. That figure is there, but it will never be just me choosing. And if something comes up, there will always be a discussion with the club.”
Is it true that the Champions League is your fixed idea this season?
“I can’t choose, I aim to win all 5 trophies. If I focus everything on the Champions League and then don’t win it, what happens?”
For how many of these 5 would you sign?
“One would be enough for me. But I’m not saying which one, who knows, maybe it’s the Italian Cup (and laughs).”
But is Inter among the European elite?
“Yes. I consider Inter one of the super greats of Europe. I feel we’re a team that strikes fear. I don’t see even one club superior to us, not even one. There are 5-6 in the Champions League stronger than the others. And we are among these.”
If you think about your first Italian life, what comes to mind?
“Parmesan cheese and fried cake. The first one especially is a flavor I can never forget, it’s my Madeleine de Proust.”
How did you feel scoring against Parma?
“Well, I had to put up with my dad, he scolded me because I celebrated… On the return, at the Tardini, it will be even more special.”
Let’s play a game. For each category, choose Italy or France. Let’s start with food.
“Italy.”
Lifestyle?
“Absolutely I’d say United States. But here I say it’s a tie. Of Italy I love the South: I was in the Amalfi Coast at 15, it felt like living in a movie.”
Art?
“France: the Louvre, Notre Dame… No no, what am I saying?!? Now that I think about it, let’s call it a tie.”
Fashion?
“France, maybe.”
Friendliness of people?
“Italy.”
Music?
“More France. But can I say something that I really find distant between the two countries?”
Go ahead.
“Driving. Here in Italy you’re crazy! Everyone insults, motorcycles come out from under the car!”
Advice from Inzaghi that you haven’t followed yet?
“I try to do everything, you know… And I don’t know how he does it, but every time he suggests something to me, then that thing happens.”
Did you know that Simone scored 4 goals in a single Champions League match?
“Really? I didn’t know that. I don’t think I’ll manage it, also because after two goals he takes me off (laughs).”
How do you manage to always smile?
“I’m happy, I do what I’ve always wanted in life. Why shouldn’t I?”
Can you tell us about your relationship with sleep?
“Every afternoon when there’s no training, I sleep. And I don’t set an alarm: like Russian roulette, when I wake up, I wake up.”
And the pillow when traveling?
“Always with me. I need to know that I can rest my head well.”
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
“I’d like to do what Titi Henry does, with CBS. I’d like to work in American TV, it’s a more relaxed type of commentary, here in Italy or France we all take ourselves too seriously. And in any case, I’d like to go live in the States.”
You have something of Henry on the field, don’t you?
“no… He was on another level, hey. I hear from him often, it’s easier to talk to him than to my father. One day he told me that in Italy they made him play as the fifth midfielder, but how is that possible?”
It’s all true.
“It’s that in life it always depends on the place where you find yourself.”
