23 - Inter Xmas Advent Calendar: Esteban Cambiasso

“I never play just to participate, not even when playing cards. I like competition, I like giving my all in everything, both physically and mentally.”

He was an Inter fan through and through, and that showed in his celebrations full of joy, passion and true happiness. Cuchu Cambiasso, the man who directed our midfield for years, was not only the heart and soul of that treble-winning Inter, but was also an Interista in every sense of the word. His time at the Club ended with 430 appearances and 51 goals in an Inter shirt.

After dispatching the ball into the back of the net, he would always reach for his shirt, stretch it out and show everyone the Nerazzurri badge and colours. He did exactly that twelve years ago today, on 23 December 2007 in the #MilanDerby. A truly intense Derby, opened up by Pirlo’s goal for Milan, levelled by Cruz and then finished off by Cambiasso, who hit one home from outside of the area with his left to give Inter the win.

A celebration in front of the Curva Nord that went down in history, never to fade from the memories of many an Inter fan, and a goal that gave us all the joy of a Derby win and a Christmas to remember. All thanks to Cuchu. So Nerazzurri that he put on Giacinto Facchetti’s shirt in the celebrations for that famous Champions League victory back in 2010.