Aleksandar Stankovic has described his return to Inter Milan as impossible to put into words after giving his first interview since rejoining the Serie A club.
The 20-year-old Serbia international completed a €23 million transfer from Club Brugge on 5 June after the Nerazzurri activated a buy-back option. Stankovic initially left Inter last summer in a €9.5 million deal but returns just 12 months later following an impressive campaign in Belgium.
Family legacy
The move carries extra significance for the Stankovic family. Aleksandar’s father, Dejan, spent nine years with Inter and was part of the squad that won the treble under José Mourinho in 2010.
Stankovic revealed his father is probably even more excited than I am about the transfer. He said the move represents a dream come true for his family of Inter supporters. His father won everything at the club during his nine-year spell, and Stankovic is sure he is proud of me. We are all delighted, he added.
Familiar faces
Stankovic is reuniting with head coach Cristian Chivu, who previously coached him in Inter’s youth teams. Stankovic praised the Romanian for supporting him when he was a young player in the Primavera and helping him understand what football is really about.
He also highlighted close bonds with current Inter players Federico Dimarco and Pio Esposito, describing Dimarco as like an older brother and noting that he and Esposito first played together in the Under-12s. He insisted he will not need a long settling-in period given his history with the club and his regular contact with both players.
Stankovic ended with a message for supporters, saying he is eager to see them again at the stadium as a player rather than a spectator. He hopes to give them plenty to cheer about.