Seven months ago, Javier Zanetti, Inter Milan’s apparently indestructible Argentine midfielder-cum-full-back-cum-winger crumpled on the pitch in agony against Palermo. He had ruptured an Achilles tendon. Given the gravity of the injury, and his age, 39, it was feared he would never add to his 845 appearances for Inter.
Zanetti acknowledged the possibility. As he underwent surgery, he said: “I just want to play at least once more in front of the Inter fans. I would hope it might be more than once.”
He turned 40 in August, and though comfortable with his rehabilitation, there was no certainty Zanetti would recover enough to play at the elite level again.
Circumstances at the club changed, too, although Zanetti, an Inter player since 1995, is used to that. Walter Mazzarri became coach, the 21st in Zanetti’s Inter epoch. Last month, a new owner, Erick Thohir, also arrived.
In times of transition, figureheads are important. In taking his place on the bench against Udinese on Sunday, there was a much-loved one: It was Zanetti, among the unused substitutes for Inter’s 3-0 win. Mazzarri had doubts about picking him in the squad, not sure if his recovery was full enough.
But the suspicion is strong that the coach was also waiting for a home game to invite the great, evergreen Zanetti, to trot out on to the field, there to receive the heartfelt applause. Another happy suspicion is that Zanetti will get more than his wish of just one more match in front of his devotees.
sports@thenational.ae
