Many fellow professionals, rivals and friends have publicly stated their admiration and respect for Inter captain Javier Zanetti following the news he has suffered a serious injury which many are suggesting could signal the end of an iconic career.
The 39-year-old Argentine moved to the Nerazzurri from Banfield in 1995. He has since played 847 games in all competitions, a club record, as well as cementing a national team high of 145 caps. He also occupies second place in the all-time Serie A appearance records, with 603, topped only by Milanese rival Paolo Maldini (who played in 647).
The defender – a term used loosely to define Zanetti’s position, so often has he fit easily into Inter’s midfield during the past 18 years – has seen tributes pour in since he ruptured his achilles tendon during Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Palermo.
Former Nerazzurri teammate Mario Balotelli, now at city rivals AC Milan, called his former captain a “great man and a great champion”. Cagliari’s Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan echoed that sentiment, insisting from his Twitter feed that Zanetti was a “great player”.
Others reiterated the same belief the player himself espoused in the minutes and hours after his injury: that he would overcome it and return to the field.
“My career does not finish here,” Zanetti insisted only hours after suffering the damage. “I want to come back even stronger than before.”
Indeed, this is a view many of the domestic rivals who have competed against him for years seem comfortable with believing and supporting.
Roma captain Francesco Totti, writing in his blog, insisted he would “wait for the next Roma-Inter match” telling Zanetti he was the only player with whom he would exchange club pennants.
“Come on Javier, have strength,” said Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon upon hearing the news. “[You are a] great captain. I’ll be on the field for our next battle.”
Buffon’s coach at the Bianconeri, Antonio Conte, spoke of his desire to see both Zanetti and his Inter teammate Diego Milito – who is also set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury – “come back soon,” calling them “players of the highest level.”
Massimiliano Allegri, who is in charge of Zanetti’s city rivals AC Milan, was similarly forthright in his evaluation, stating simply “he will have the strength to come back.”
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