Happy birthday, Nicola Berti! Five curiosities about the former midfielder | OneFootball

Happy birthday to Nicola Berti! The former Nerazzurri midfielder turns 57 today. In his ten years with the Nerazzurri, from 1988 to 1998, Nicola thrilled the fans with his play and his character, becoming an Inter symbol. Let's retrace his career in the Nerazzurri shirt through some curiosities.

AN UNFORGETTABLE YEAR

Berti arrived at Inter in the summer of 1988, as did Lothar Matthaus, Andreas Brehme, Ramon Diaz and Alessandro Bianchi. Everyone would become vital in the journey towards the Nerazzurri's 13th Scudetto win in the Club's history: Nicola became a mainstay in the midfield, playing 32 matches and scoring seven goals. The most important of all, however, does not appear in the history books. On 28 May 1989, Inter beat Napoli at San Siro to become Italian champions. The Azzurri took the lead, but Berti brought the scores level with a wonderful volley, but the shot deflected off Fusi and the goal was classed as an own goal. The match was then decided by Matthaus' oustanding free-kick.

UEFA CUP FINALS

Victories in Italy and Europe: in the 1990s, Inter won three UEFA cups: two of these saw Nicola Berti on the scoresheet. In 1990/91, the Nerazzurri faced Roma in a two-legged final: Giovanni Trapattoni's team won 2-0 at San Siro. Berti first won the penalty scored by Matthaus before then scoring the second to make it 2-0. It was a result that the Giallorossi would be unable to overturn at the Olimpico. Another final, another goal from Nicola in the 1993/94 season: Berti scored the only goal of the game played in Austria against Salzburg, and the Nerazzurri followed this up with the same final score at San Siro. Berti left Inter in January 1998, failing to lift his third UEFA Cup in Paris, but still made two appearances in that edition of the competition.

MAN OF THE DERBY

The derby was a game like no other for Nicola Berti: a symbol of Inter, the midfielder played the games against AC Milan with great intensity. Berti scored two goals against the Rossoneri, even if we cannot forget the goal to make it 3-1 in the 1994/95 season, officially considered an own goal by Sebastiano Rossi. The derby that Nicola remembers most fondly, however, is that of April 1993: "I dribbled, nutmegged someone, got fouled, got the ball smashed at me and then picked up a yellow card. Crazy stuff. I'm there, under the Curva North, warning everyone: now, I'll score for you. And I scored. Berti, under the Curva against AC Milan. That's Inter!"

AN UNMISTAKEBALE STYLE

Gel, a quiff that became a distinctive sign and lowered socks: Nicola Berti had an unmistakable style on and off the pitch. There is a reason why Berti played without shinpads (they were not mandatory at the time) and with his socks lowered and rolled down: Nicola wanted to show everyone that he was brave and not afraid of anyone.

THE CHANT

A Nerazzurri idol, much loved for his ability to embody the soul of Inter: a love that continues today, an affection that does not fade with the passing of the years and which stands out with a particular chant, which resonated in San Siro in Nicola's Nerazzurri years:

"E facci un gol, e facci un gol, Nicola Berti facci un gol" ("Score us a goal, and score us a goal, Nicola Berti score us a goal")

On his 57th birthday, the Club and then entire Nerazzurri family and fans would like wish Nicola Berti many happy returns.