Matteo Darmian is currently a free agent after his contract with Inter Milan expired and has expressed a desire to continue playing in Italy. The 36-year-old defender, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, stated he is evaluating offers but would prefer to remain in Serie A. Darmian recently won three Serie A titles, three Coppa Italia trophies, and three Supercoppe Italiane with Inter, but admits the Champions League finals lost in Istanbul and Monaco remain significant regrets.
Darmian joined Inter in 2020 after a spell with Manchester United, a move he described as the culmination of a personal journey given his lifelong support for the club. He acknowledged the club made other evaluations regarding his future and respected their decision, despite wanting another year in Milan. His time at Inter is viewed as a “second youth” in his career, built on hard work and dedication.
Prior to his move to Inter, Darmian had played for Milan, Torino, and Manchester United. He highlighted the importance of his time at Torino, where he felt he truly discovered his potential, and credited former Milan youth coach Chicco Evani for instilling patience in his development. Darmian also praised Antonio Conte for establishing the winning mentality at Inter, Simone Inzaghi for allowing more freedom on the pitch, and Cristian Chivu for restoring mental equilibrium within the squad.
Darmian reflected on the strong team spirit at Inter, believing the core group of players – including Barella, Bastoni, Lautaro, and Dimarco – can continue to achieve success for years to come. He also mentioned a potential role offered by Inter within their youth system, which he declined, but expressed a future interest in coaching. Darmian believes the current football landscape differs from when he moved to Manchester United, where he felt he had earned the transfer after three strong Serie A seasons.
