Pelé, Inter, San Siro: memories of the 'King of football'

Pelé. Remembering him becomes a divisive exercise: those who have seen him, at least once live, and those who have feasted on the legend, watching videos, reading, watching films, scrolling through records and statistics.

Pelé in Milan. Several times he graced the pitch at San Siro, with Santos and with Brazil. Performances, friendlies that drew thousands of people, the stands packed to watch him live, to catch a bit of his magic with the ball.

Magic that Angelo Moratti had tried to bring to Inter in 1958, before giving in to resistance from Santos, at the mercy of fan protests. Pelé appeared at San Siro, but as an opponent, several times in the 1960s. Sold-out matches with newspapers ready to recount every moment of this phenomenon that landed in Milan.

"The Pelé of San Siro is Corso", read the Corriere della Sera in June 1963, after Inter's 2-0 victory over Santos in the Città di Milano tournament. It was one of the occasions that made Pelé say that Mario Corso, God's left foot, could easily have played in his almost unbeatable Brazil side. Or when Pelé himself went to Ivano Bordon, newly inducted into the Nerazzurri's Hall of Fame, to congratulate him on his performance between the sticks.

Fragments, memories, anecdotes that help define the greatness of an undisputed great that the entire Inter family, along with fans all over the world, will always remember with affection and fondness.