Pippo Inzaghi recalls favourite memories and when his brother Simone nearly joined Milan

Filippo Inzaghi has provided a reflection on his time at AC Milan and the memories he made, and he revealed that his brother Simone Inzaghi nearly ended up joining.

There aren’t many players who have had the experiences that Inzaghi has had, and he is regarded as one of the greatest strikers of his generation after illustrious spells at both Juventus and Milan.

He won two UEFA Champions League titles (2003, 2007), and three Serie A titles (1998, 2004, 2011), becoming the seventh-highest scorer of any Italian with 313 goals scored in official matches.

Pippo is also Milan’s top international goal scorer in the club’s history with 43 goals and holds the record for most hat-tricks in Serie A with 10.

Inzaghi gave an interview to DAZN in which he looked back on his time with Milan, revealing some interesting anecdotes, and his comments were relayed by MilanNews.

You and your brother Simone both played…

“Technically Simone was stronger than me. He lived with a significant back problem that prevented him from going to Milan. After Piacenza, before going to Lazio, he was supposed to go to Milan, but he was rejected due to this back problem which has certainly affected his career as a footballer. But I think that what he didn’t have as a footballer he is now having as a coach.”

Do you remember that brace against Real Madrid?

“It was a magical evening. I started on the bench, but I had brought two shirts to celebrate goals number 69 and 70 in Europe. Then I came in and scored a brace. I then took one of those shirts to Borgonovo

“When I think of that match I also think of the day after when I brought him the shirt. It was a memorable match, we managed to overcome Raul, then oh well Messi and CR7 arrived… At the end of the match Mourihno hugged me. He said he hoped I wouldn’t play.”

Do you have a collection of shirts?

“I’ll tell you this anecdote: I played for Parma, I was a kid and I wanted Baresi’s shirt. We played against Milan, I wore number 16, maybe I didn’t even enter the pitch. At the end of the match Baresi gave me his shirt and he asked me for mine.

“This has helped me throughout my career because, against the small teams, they also asked me for my shirt and I have always asked for theirs. It’s also a question of respect.”

From Istanbul 2005 to Athens 2007…

“It’s incredible that in that period we played three Champions League finals in five years. In 2005 I was injured and went to the stands in Istanbul. Even in the Club World Cup against Boca which we lost I wasn’t well, so I was saddened by those two matches.

“Luckily we won in Athens and also the subsequent Club World Cup, both with a double. It was something incredible and magical that repays the seriousness and passion I have always put into football. The first goal in Athens? That year I scored three in that way: one in the derby, one against Empoli and one in Athens.”