Inter began their Serie A campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over newly-promoted Monza at the Giuseppe Meazza on Saturday evening, climbing to the summit of the early league table. Yet whilst Pio Esposito and Andy Diouf earned plaudits for their contributions on the pitch, newcomer Djed Spence generated significant buzz before making his competitive debut.
The former Premier League defender, who completed his transfer to the Nerazzurri earlier this summer, was not named in manager Cristian Chivu’s matchday squad for the season opener. Spence watched from the stands as Hakan Calhanoglu, Piotr Zielinski, Esposito and Yann Bisseck found the net to secure a convincing win for the hosts.
Despite his absence from the field, the full-back quickly became the focus of attention across social media platforms. Spence’s touchline attire—comprising a New Balance tracksuit top and reflective sunglasses—caught the eye of supporters, with one fan declaring on X that the player possessed an “unquantifiable aura.”
The reaction to his appearance proved significant enough that La Gazzetta dello Sport dedicated column inches to analysing his style. The respected Italian publication compared Spence’s fashion choices to those of former Serie A maverick Antonio Cassano, who famously donned a fur coat during his Real Madrid unveiling in 2006.
Spence was not the only summer arrival absent from the bench on Saturday. Fellow Premier League recruit Curtis Jones was also omitted from the squad, whilst John Stones featured only as a late substitute after his recent switch to the San Siro.
The comprehensive victory establishes an early marker for Inter as they seek to build momentum this term, with Chivu retaining several fresh options to rotate into his starting eleven in the weeks ahead. Spence will hope to transition from fashion headlines to footballing contributions once he receives his first call-up.