Inter Milan is set for a pivotal week, with both the Champions League and the Milan derby on the horizon as they prepare for Sunday’s Serie A clash against Monza. The team, however, finds itself in the spotlight not just for footballing reasons but due to unsettling ties between organised crime and its fanbase, following the murder of a notorious mobster.
As Italian champions, Inter will aim to secure their position at the top of the Serie A table, where they currently lead on goals scored, tied with Juventus, Torino, and Udinese on seven points. However, head coach Simone Inzaghi is expected to rotate his squad ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League rematch with Manchester City. This encounter, a rematch of the 2023 final, stands as the most significant match in the newly expanded eight-game group stage. It also comes just days before the Milan derby, an opportunity for Inter to further harm their local rivals’ standing in the league.
Last season, Inter secured the Scudetto with five games to spare by defeating AC Milan. Inzaghi will be looking to ensure his key players are available for both the crucial fixtures against Manchester City and the derby.
Elsewhere, Juventus plays Empoli on Saturday evening, while AC Milan hosts Venezia at the San Siro. Milan, already trailing Inter by five points, also faces the challenge of hosting Liverpool on Tuesday. New coach Paulo Fonseca’s poor start to the season has already tested the patience of the Milan faithful.
Tammy Abraham is poised to make his first start for Milan, joining former Chelsea teammates Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, while Alvaro Morata recovers from a thigh injury sustained on the opening day. Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez are expected to return to the starting lineup after being benched against Lazio, with hopes of boosting their performances ahead of key matches against Venezia and Liverpool.
Off the field, Inter’s fanbase is under scrutiny after the killing of Antonio Bellocco, an alleged member of the ‘Ndrangheta mafia. Bellocco was stabbed to death last week by Andrea Beretta, a known figure within Inter’s hardcore “ultras” supporters. The incident occurred outside a boxing gym in a Milan suburb and has led to Beretta’s family being placed under police surveillance due to fears of mafia reprisals.
Bellocco’s death has drawn attention to concerns about the infiltration of mafia elements into ultra groups, where illicit activities such as ticket touting and drug dealing are reportedly common. Beretta’s rise in the Curva Nord section of the San Siro followed the murder of Vittorio Boiocchi, a career criminal, who was shot dead outside his home in October 2022. At the time of Boiocchi’s murder, Italian media reported that he had been recorded bragging about making €80,000 per month through his role as an ultra leader.
In other Serie A news, Atalanta will face Fiorentina in their first home match of the season at the newly renovated Gewiss Stadium. Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman, who played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s Europa League campaign last season, is expected to feature after a summer of transfer speculation linking him to Paris Saint-Germain. Lookman was on the bench during Atalanta’s defeat to Inter Milan before the international break and is set to return to action as coach Gian Piero Gasperini prepares for another crucial match against Arsenal in the Champions League next Thursday.
These upcoming fixtures will be crucial for Inter, Milan, and Atalanta as they navigate both domestic and European challenges, while concerns about off-pitch issues continue to swirl around San Siro.
