With the presence and active participation of Vice President Javier Zanetti, a large group from Inter Special, the experimental Paralympic football team, took part in a shared training session alongside boys and girls from Inter’s youth academy. A moment of mutual growth and learning, and a manifesto of Interismo understood as a form of family identity and human progress through football.

Not an isolated episode, but the continuation of a long-standing journey that has seen the club committed for years to the development of inclusive football, recently expanded to include powerchair football and a team of visually impaired athletes. Above all, a way of cultivating the Interismo of the future, on and off the pitch, as explained by Lorenzo Lanzoni, Head of ASD Sporting 4E: Inter’s partner in this field.

Through Lanzoni’s voice, we were able to step inside this dimension of Inter, understanding its natural connection to everything that surrounds it in black and blue.

After exploring different dimensions, first and foremost the outdoor one, the final day of the black-and-blue ‘Montagnetta’ was dedicated to the social sphere, and in particular to Inter Special. How important is it for a club like Inter to cultivate this dimension?

Lorenzo Lanzoni: “Cultivate is exactly the right word: and it’s important to cultivate properly. Very often, it wouldn’t take much: by regulation, professional clubs are required to provide sporting equipment to Special teams competing in a league. A club could stop there. Over the years, Inter has done far more. Together, we’ve cultivated a deep relationship, one that builds trust and motivates the athletes themselves, who feel involved, valued and recognised. For them, it’s a daily challenge. Feeling included and being able to do more each time, like taking part in this event on the ‘Montagnetta’, within a much broader series of initiatives, is incredibly important. And then there’s the place itself: for every Milanese, the ‘Montagnetta’ carries a strong historical significance. Even for us coaches, it’s meaningful to see how our athletes respond to moments like this, which are anything but taken for granted.”

Another key word over these days has been cross-pollination. Here, we see a shared training session involving the Inter Special team and members of Inter’s youth academy, both men’s and women’s. What does it mean for the new Inter generation to take part in initiatives like this?

Lorenzo Lanzoni: “Achieving full integration on the pitch isn’t simple, in the sense that Special football doesn’t allow for the active participation of able-bodied players in competition, unlike other disciplines such as Baskin. But in these shared sessions, integration works perfectly. It works in terms of growth, maturity and development. In recent years, we’ve increasingly involved the youth academy, and the response has been incredible. We often run educational sessions within the academy and then see the same young players coming back as assistants or helpers. The dynamic is always the same and always makes you smile: at first, they sit on the sidelines; then they realise they can play, have fun, and explore an essential human dimension. That’s what cross-pollination is: an enriching exchange for everyone involved.”

The ‘Montagnetta’ also became a place to reflect on Inter’s identity, represented on this special occasion by its very quintessence: Vice President Javier Zanetti, a black-and-blue legend synonymous with values and integrity. Can you speak about your connection with Zanetti, and about how Inter Special fits into Inter’s identity?

Lorenzo Lanzoni: “Vice President Zanetti has been closely involved in the project for about eight years, and he has always conveyed a strong sense of equality and belonging to the same family. Family is a word we use often, we used it today as well, because that’s exactly what this is. Whether you’re the Vice President or an Inter Special player, the level of commitment and representation is the same. And it’s significant that this dynamic is consciously cultivated by everyone involved.”

How would you describe the current state of Inter Special, and the objectives set for its future?

Lorenzo Lanzoni: “It’s growing, growing tremendously. This year, Inter decided to broaden the scope of both the clubs involved and the types of disabilities addressed. Previously, the Special programme focused on athletes with intellectual and relational disabilities. Now, Inter has expanded its vision to include powerchair football and a project dedicated to visually impaired athletes, increasing the number of teams. We can only be proud, proud to be pioneers. Not proud of being the only ones, because in this case, uniqueness would mean a missed opportunity for others. This is a field that can and should involve more clubs. Overall, Inter Special is always in motion. What we try to do is enjoy the present.”

As the person in charge, how would you explain Inter Special’s approach to football training to an audience that may not be familiar with this world?

Lorenzo Lanzoni: “The core idea behind training doesn’t change compared to a team made up entirely of able-bodied players. For Special athletes, football is football. Just as my son leaves home to train twice a week and play a match at the weekend, the same approach applies to those who are part of Inter Special. It’s identical, and that’s precisely why it works. Key factors such as team dynamics, group identity and the pursuit of a shared goal help manage different disabilities and personal identities. One of Inter Special’s strengths lies in the number of participants: this year we have 37 registered athletes, divided across multiple teams. We train all together, so the more advanced players can support those who are still developing, motivating them. The large group also allows everyone to play at the level best suited to their abilities. In the end, everything falls under one simple banner: football.”

Does Interismo run through these teams and these athletes?

Lorenzo Lanzoni: “For us coaches, absolutely. The athletes themselves, however, aren’t all black-and-blue supporters. The incredible thing, something that always makes me reflect positively, happens when we attend Serie A matches together. For example, we recently went to Inter–Como, and many of our athletes accompanied the players onto the pitch. About half of them were Inter fans. But the moment Inter scored, everyone erupted in celebration and supported the team for the entire match. I think that image alone helps define the idea of family I mentioned earlier. It’s all about feeling part of something bigger: something that places everyone on the same level, as it should.”