Sucic’s goal crowns a breakthrough night for Inter Milan
Petar Sucic’s brilliant goal against Fiorentina highlights a growing maturity and strengthens his case for a starting spot at Inter Milan
Petar Sucic’s brilliant goal against Fiorentina highlights a growing maturity — and strengthens his case for a starting spot at Inter Milan
The splendid goal scored against Fiorentina was just the jewel of an already excellent evening for Croatian midfielder Petar Sucic, who may soon become a Inter Milan starter following Mkhitaryan’s injury.
“Come on, crack a smile…” his teasing teammates would say at the start, seeing him so slender and shy in the locker room.
On the pitch, though, he transformed — bold, unafraid to attempt highlight-reel plays.
He immediately looked like the same Petar Sucic we saw against Fiorentina, capable of using the sole of his boot — the sacred tool of the greats — to outwit poor Comuzzo and score his first Inter Milan goal. It was another step in his rapid adaptation to Inter Milan life.
Before that, the Croatian had already assisted teammates and impressed with his energy and quality, but scoring his own goal was a small obsession.
Coach Cristian Chivu noticed that too, being the first to congratulate him and say, “Finally.” For a full month, the Romanian coach hadn’t started him, though it never seemed a demotion — just the natural ups and downs of a season, along with the return of Piotr Zielinski, another Inter Milan midfielder vying to replace the injured Henrikh Mkhitaryan, sidelined until December,” reports La Gazzetta dello Sport via Fcinter1908.
From Petar to Pietro: A Inter Milan talent finds his identity
“Even before his goal under the Curva Nord — which seemed to sing again just for the occasion — the 21-year-old Croatian had opened up more with his teammates. His character won’t change — his voice remains soft and his demeanor gentle — but now Petar laughs heartily at jokes, especially since he’s learning to master the language.
Learning Italian was his first task set by the Inter Milan management upon signing, and his progress is clear.
He understands everything in training, and if something slips by, Chivu clarifies it in English. Sucic wants to soon speak publicly in his new language, ready for the next time a microphone comes his way, as happened Wednesday night.
For now, he’s content with his new nickname: everyone simply calls him Pietro, the Italian version of Petar — a name he likes very much. What started as a joke has become a sign of identity.
Meanwhile, he’s exploring Milan alongside a colleague old enough to be his father — the one wearing the rival colors in the city.
He and Luka Modric, 18 years apart, form Croatia’s central belt but now find themselves in the same foreign city by a twist of fate.
It’s natural for them to spend time together, exploring both the city and its green outskirts — though not as lush as Sucic’s homeland, the Bosnian village of Kandija, where his family had a farm and he first kicked a ball.
Sucic’s roots are in Bosnia, the nation he represented up to the U21s before choosing the Croatia of his parents (and of Modric).
In any case, the Inter Milan man sees the Milan legend as a timeless monument, the ultimate model to follow.
On November 23, right after the break, the two friends will meet again — in the solemn setting of the Milan derby. Sucic has an excellent chance to start that night, as well as before and after, regardless of Mkhitaryan’s fitness,” adds La Gazzetta.