Thuram: ‘Sad at Scudetto loss, but can tell Dad how to win Champions League’

“It is extra special for me, because I am playing against the team where I grew up, and I am still very good friends with some of their players,” said Thuram during his Media Day interviews.

“Ousmane Dembele is one of my best friends, we talk on the phone practically every day.”

Thuram, of course, comes from a football family, and his father Lilian is a regular in the stands to watch him play for Inter.

“The Champions League Final is a dream, the kind of match you imagine playing when you are in the back garden as a kid, and finally you get to experience it for real,” said Marcus.

“As for my Dad, I hope to be able to explain to him how you win a Champions League!”

He had an ankle injury that stalled his progress in recent months he and fully admits this was part of the frustration at missing out on the Scudetto to Napoli.

“I was sad more than angry, because we could’ve won the title. My performances in the second half of the season weren’t as good as the first, but Inter are in the Final. We have 90 minutes to play and hope to win the trophy.

“The Scudetto is in the past now, we congratulate Napoli and move on. I think we need to learn the lessons from that, but not let it weigh on us, so remember the good and bad things we did.”

While it would be the third Champions League trophy for Inter, the first since 2010, it is a piece of silverware that has so far eluded Paris Saint-Germain, even after spending huge amounts to amass a superstar squad.

“PSG are not a surprise, as they are among the three best teams in Europe. Gigio Donnarumma is doing incredible things too, he’s among the best goalkeepers in the world,” added Thuram.

“I might ask some of our Italian players for some advice on his weaknesses.”