More than a first name, a new dimension: Marcus Thuram did not miss his debut in Serie A where he expanded his register and his reputation in the jersey of Inter Milan, crowned Italian champion on Monday.
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At the start of the season, he was the eldest son of Lilian Thuram, 1998 world champion and 2000 European champion who spent a good part of his career in Italy, first at Parma (1996-2001), then at Juventus. Turin (2001-06). He quickly became “Tikus” for his teammates and home fans, the nightmare of many Serie A defenders.
For his return to the country where he was born and where he lived until he was nine years old, Thuram, 26, left his mark: “his contribution is not limited to the field, he radiates all of Inter with his goals of course, but also his heart, his enthusiasm,” analyzes Marco Bucciantini, journalist for Gazzetta dello Sport.
“ He put himself at the complete disposal of his trainer and fans », he continues.
In just a few weeks, the former player of Sochaux (2015-17), Guingamp (2017-19) and Mönchengladbach (2019-23) has found his bearings in the interior locker room: his mastery of Italian has a lot to do with it, just like his quickly developed proximity with one of the executives, the Turkish leader Hakan Çalhanoglu.
“Tikus” (“little Marcus” in Creole) also quickly won over its leaders and the supporters still heated by the departure of Belgian international Romelu Lukaku (13 goals), on loan from Chelsea last season and who refused to stay for finally joining AS Roma.
Holder in Blue?
For Marco Bucciantini, Thuram is already in line with the best foreign attackers in Inter’s history and “is reminiscent of Samuel Eto’o through his goals, his role on the pitch and in the group”.
For his first season at Inter, the Cameroonian, Nerazzurro player from 2009 to 2011, scored 16 goals and provided eight assists: Thuram has 14 goals in all competitions, including one scored Monday in the Milan derby (2- 1), and seven assists.
His decision to join Inter, who had followed him for several seasons, was carefully considered and was never, it seems, called into question, even when Paris SG approached him during the summer of 2023.
It allowed him to open his club record with the Italian Super Cup and the “scudetto”, of which his father won four editions with Juventus, even if two have since been withdrawn following the Calciopoli scandal.
Thuram, as unpredictable on the field as he is thoughtful and composed off it, continued his transformation during his last season in the Bundesliga, playing exclusively in the center as N.9, alongside Lautaro Martinez, with whom he forms one of the most prolific attacking duos in Europe.
To the point of becoming, perhaps, the starting center forward of the France team during Euro-2024 in Germany (June 14-July 14).
But competition remains tough with Olivier Giroud, whose path he crossed during the derby for the last time at club before the veteran undoubtedly leaves for the United States.
As it is not yet certain that Thuram will wear the Inter jersey next season: the Milanese club, still in the grip of major financial difficulties, has gotten into the habit of selling some of its finest assets and center forward could earn him between 70 and 90 million euros.