The striker: “I watch a lot and don’t listen to what people say about me. I wish I had Lautaro’s hunger for goals and Thuram’s movement.”

Angelò, with his French accent, polite manners, and casual clothes at the end of training, is a unique 22-year-old: he has the rare power to ignite San Siro, but he also gets emotional listening to a 91-year-old Italian singer. Between new Nerazzurri goals and old-fashioned romance, between his twin Pio and Ornella Vanoni, Ange-Yoan Bonny stands in the middle. 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 room in Appiano: “Otherwise, I’ll be lost for words…” Shy, perhaps, but certainly determined.

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

“I’ve learned that it takes time to understand where you are, to realize how big this club is. Then, once you’ve understood that, you have to realize the level of the team, which is constantly rising, even in training: Inter is very demanding, always asking more of you, but I’m really enjoying myself and learning…”

What exactly do you need to learn?

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

Who is helping you in this apprenticeship?

“There are many, but it’s easier with those who speak French, like Mkhitaryan. Marcus Thuram helps me a lot, and not just since we became teammates: his advice was invaluable even back in Parma. He pushes me further, as do my Italian teammates: they want me to always give my best without letting up.”

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 overwhelmed, the stadium is so big that it seems endless, it takes your breath away. When you play for Inter, it’s different. I was lucky enough to score straight away against Torino: after the roar, in the noise, you can’t hear anything anymore. It’s nice because everything is muffled, it’s just emotion.“

Who was decisive in your decision to join the Nerazzurri?

”Last year, in Parma vs. Inter, the 2-2 draw, Bastoni tackled me and said, ‘Come join us next year…’. It seemed like a warning, but I was pleased. He, Bisseck, and Acerbi make themselves heard in training, they help push you further.”

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

“Very important. In Milan, the coach is the same person he was in Parma, he has the same way of doing things and communicating. He always asks me to be available for others, to play for the team first.”

What would you like to “take” from Lautaro and Thuram’s game?

“I’d like to have Lautaro’s hunger in front of goal: 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, it doesn’t matter. Marcus, on the other hand, can do everything: goals, dribbling, assists. 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 defend the ball like he does.” 

What comes to mind when you think of the derby?

“In terms of appeal and grandeur, it’s on a par with Barça-Real. Certain duels, such as the one between Dumfries and Theo, have stuck in my mind. They are two great teams that don’t hate each other, but in those 90 minutes, it’s a battle. Let’s hope that, in the end, everything is colored black and blue…”

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 only on Milan, but also on Napoli, Roma, and the others pushing from behind, would be a big leap forward.”

Going back to Parma, how hard 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 made friends with Bernabè, who has great qualities, but the decisive person 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, I just want to do better every year than the previous one. The challenge isn’t with others, but only with myself. The only thing that matters is making the fans proud, beyond the statistics.“

You explain well the origin of that photo of you as a child in Nerazzurri colors.

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

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

“Italy-France Under-21 2–2, Pio and I came on as substitutes. We immediately hit it off 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 say about us outside. With Sucic, Bisseck, Luis Henrique, and the others, we are a great group of young people who have known each other for years in the locker room. It’s a new and beautiful experience, a world to discover together.”

Do you think the outside noise is exaggerated for Pio?

“When you play for Inter, there’s more attention on everyone, and here in Italy, there’s a lot of it on him: he’s young, he has great potential, he came up through this youth system, he wears the blue jersey. There’s a lot of pressure on him, but I think he handles it very well: he hasn’t changed, neither he nor I like to show off.“

Do you 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 called me Yoan, but he couldn’t pronounce it. Sometimes he said Jean, sometimes Johan… Then one day he discovered that there was also Ange in the name, and I became Angelò to everyone. You like to Italianize names: Mkhitaryan became Michele, Luis Henrique became Gigi, but then why? (laughs, ed.).”

And where did that pirate celebration come from?

“A game with friends from my hometown, Tours, in central France. It all started with a video on TikTok that made us laugh. When I scored against Parma in Naples, that celebration was born: it was a dedication, and it has now become a trademark.“

You are passionate about music and TV series: what are you watching and listening to now?

”I’m watching Breaking Bad, but it’s hard to finish it, it’s very long… The last concert I saw was Drake, together with Marcus: really beautiful. But before every game, I always listen to Radiohead’s Everything in Its Right Place. It may seem strange, but it relaxes and energizes me at the same time: it starts slowly, calmly, but then there’s something bad inside. As for Vanoni, well, you already know…”.

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

“I’m glad she became an Inter fan: it would be an honor to meet her, have a coffee or go out to dinner together! 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 conclude, tell us one thing you like best about France and one thing that is better in Italy.

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