Torino & Italy Star Admits: ‘I’ve Always Been An Interista, 20 Minutes Of Champions League Will Stick With Me Forever’

Raoul Bellanova admits that he’s always been an Inter Milan fan, and that playing in the Champions League final was special to him.

Bellanova spoke to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, via FCInterNews, ahead of his visit to his former team with Torino tomorrow.

Bellanova did not exactly have the most auspicious of spells as an Inter player.

The Italian international was at the Nerazzurri on loan from Cagliari last season.

It was not an easy season for Bellanova. He had to settle for a role on the bench, virtually never starting matches.

The 23-year-old can say that he’s played in a Champions League final, as he came on as a substitute for Inter against Manchester City last June.

But the reality is that Bellanova did not play much.

There were eighteen appearances in Serie A, and 22 in all competitions for Bellanova. But these amounted to just 454 minutes in the League, as the Italian made a lot of cameo appearances.

Bellanova also admitted that it was hard for him to be booed by the San Siro in a Serie A clash with Empoli.

Raoul Bellanova: “Always Been An Interista, Champions League Final Will Stay With Me Forever”

Bellanova admitted that “I’ve always been an Interista.”

“Everyone in my family was an Interista,” added the Italian international. “So I was too.”

Of his feelings at having found form playing for Torino this season, Bellanova said that “I feel like I’m getting vindication after making so many sacrifices.”

He added that “I’ll always carry Cagliari in my heart.”

“That’s where I started to really savour my dream,” Bellanova said of playing for the Sardinian club. “Cagliari gave me a platform, which allowed me to join Inter, my favourite team, the following season.”

Of playing in the Champions League final for Inter last season for twenty minutes, Bellanova said that “That will stay with me forever.”