The forward: “I watch a lot and don’t listen to what people say about me. I’d like to have Lautaro’s hunger for goals and move like Thuram.”

Angelò, with his French accent, polite manners, and casual attire after practice, is a one-of-a-kind 22-year-old: he has the rare ability to electrify San Siro, yet he gets emotional listening to a 91-year-old Italian singer. Between new Nerazzurri goals and old-school romance, between his twin brother Pio and Ornella Vanoni, right in the middle stands Ange-Yoan Bonny. Mathieu Darmian, “the most French of Italians,” watches him from behind the glass, but Chivu’s striker prefers that his teammate not enter the room next to the dining hall at Appiano: “Otherwise, I’ll be at a loss for words…” Shy, perhaps, but certainly determined.

Bonny, what have you learned after five months at Inter?

“I’ve realized that it takes time to figure out where you stand, to grasp just how great this club is. Then, once you’ve figured that out, you have to realize the level of the team, which is constantly rising, starting right from training: Inter is very demanding; it always asks more of you, but I’m having a great time and I’m learning…”

What exactly do you need to learn?

“Playing with my back to the goal—sometimes I’ve given the ball away needlessly. Then I need to improve my heading, but also my stamina, since we play every three days and work hard. Even more so during the break… In general, even the things you’re good at can always be done better.”

Who’s helping you with this learning process?

“There are lots of people, but it’s easier with those who speak French, like Mkhitaryan. Marcus Thuram helps me a lot—and not just since we’ve been teammates: even back in Parma, his advice was invaluable. He pushes me to go further, as do my Italian teammates: they want me to always give my all without any letup.”

How did you feel when you came on and scored your first goal at San Siro?

“The first time was last year with Parma: I was dazed—the stadium is so huge it seems to go on forever; it takes your breath away. When you play for Inter, it’s different. I was lucky enough to score right away against Torino: after the roar, amid all the noise, you can’t hear a thing. It’s great because everything’s muffled—it’s just pure emotion.”

Who was instrumental in your decision to join Inter?

“Last year, in the Parma-Inter match—the one that ended 2-2—Bastoni tackled me and said, ‘Next year, you’re coming to us…’ It sounded like a warning, but I was flattered. He, Bisseck, and Acerbi really make their presence felt in training; they help push you to go the extra mile.”

Chivu was also there in Parma that day: how important is he to you?

“Very, very important. In Milan, the coach is the same genuine person he was in Parma; he has the same manner and way of communicating. He always asks me to be there for others, to put the team first.”

What, on the other hand, would you like to “take” from Lautaro and Thuram’s play?

“I’d like to have Lautaro’s hunger in front of the net: being the fourth-highest scorer in Inter’s history at his age is extraordinary. He always wants to score—whether it’s a beautiful goal or an ugly one doesn’t matter. Marcus, on the other hand, can do it all: score goals, dribble, and set up plays. Maybe I have a few more similarities with him, but we’re different and we can play together. I’d also like to take something from Pio—few players defend the ball like he does.” 

What comes to mind when you think of the derby?

“In terms of excitement and grandeur, it’s on par with Barça vs. Real. Certain matchups have stuck with me, like the one between Dumfries and Theo. They’re two great teams that don’t hate each other, but during those 90 minutes, it’s a battle. Let’s hope that, in the end, everything turns Nerazzurri…”

But will it already be decisive?

“No, because it’s only November and anything can happen, but the derby is already important: being able to pick up more points—not just on Milan, but also on Napoli, Roma, and the others pushing from behind—would be a big step forward.”

Going back to Parma, how tough was it at the beginning?

“At 17, a different country, a different culture, a different language: it was all difficult… Luckily, I found a great group of people; I became friends with Bernabè, who has tremendous qualities, but the key figure was Buffon: he spoke excellent French and made me feel at home. He’s like an uncle to me…”

Four goals and four assists: how many will you have by the end of the season?

“I don’t have a specific number in mind; my goal is to do better each year than the last. The challenge isn’t against others, but only against myself. What matters most is making the fans proud—beyond the statistics.“

Can you tell us about the origin of that photo of you as a child wearing the Nerazzurri jersey?

”It’s the first jersey my mom bought when I started soccer school. She convinced me to wear it by telling me it belonged to Eto’o’s team—he was my idol. Maybe it was a sign—who knows.”

Did you know that exactly one year ago tomorrow (today, ed.) you met Pio Esposito for the first time?

“Italy vs. France Under-21, 2–2; Pio and I came off the bench. We immediately clicked because we’re similar: we keep our eyes wide open, but our ears closed. We observe every detail to improve, but we try not to listen to what people on the outside say about us. Including Sucic, Bisseck, Luis Henrique, and the others, we’re a great, close-knit group of young players in a locker room who’ve known each other for years. It’s a new and wonderful experience, a world to discover together.”

Do you think the outside buzz is overblown when it comes to Pio?

“When you play for Inter, everyone gets more attention, and here in Italy there’s a lot of it on him: he’s young, has great potential, came up through this youth system, and wears the national team jersey. The pressure on him is intense, but I think he handles it very well: he hasn’t changed—neither he nor I like to act like big shots.”

Do you, on the other hand, like it when they call you… Angelo?

“Angelò. Coach Pecchia started it at Parma: when I played badly, I was just ‘Bonny’; when I played well, he’d call me ‘Yoan,’ but he couldn’t pronounce it. Sometimes he’d say Jean, sometimes Johan… Then one day he discovered that ‘Ange’ was also in my name, and I became Angelò to everyone. You guys like to Italianize names: Mkhitaryan became Michele, Luis Henrique became Gigi—but why on earth? (laughs, ed.).”

And where did that pirate celebration come from?

“It started as a joke with friends back in my hometown, Tours, in central France. It all began with a TikTok video that made us laugh. When I scored against Parma in Naples, that celebration was born: it was a tribute, and it’s now become my trademark.”

You’re passionate about music and TV shows: what are you watching and listening to right now?

“I’m watching *Breaking Bad*, but it’s hard to finish it—it’s so long… The last concert I saw was Drake’s, with Marcus: it was truly amazing. But before every game, I always have Radiohead’s ‘Everything in Its Right Place’ playing in my ears. It might seem strange, but it relaxes me and gets me pumped at the same time: it starts off slow and calm, but then there’s something edgy underneath. As for Vanoni, well, you already know…”

Ornella lets us know she received his jersey and wants to meet him soon in Milan.

“I’m glad she’s become an Inter fan: getting to know her, having coffee or going out to dinner together would be an honor! The first time I heard that magical voice was in a scene from *Ocean’s 12*: she sounded like Edith Piaf—she was so… French.”

By the way, to wrap things up, tell us one thing you like best about France and one thing where Italy is better.

“French boulangeries are the best—I’m sorry—but I’ll admit that having a bidet in the bathroom like you do is handy (laughs, ed.).”