Inter and Pirelli, Same VALUES

The relationship between Pirelli and Inter is extraordinary, transcending seasons, years, football eras, and historical periods. It's one of the longest-standing partnerships in the world of football, an exceptional combination linked to the iconic actions and plays of timeless champions, from Ronaldo to Javier Zanetti, from Toldo to Diego Milito, from Maicon to Materazzi, all the way to Lautaro Martinez, Barella, Bastoni, and today's Nerazzurri. It's a journey of shared values, unique performances, and common objectives. The story of Inter and Pirelli is composed of memorable moments, unforgettable victories, and incredible emotions. With "Inter and Pirelli, Same VALUE," we revisit some moments in Nerazzurri history, four goals that best exemplify this connection, four magical moments that tell of a unique and special relationship.

Even before controlling the ball, a few steps beyond the penalty area line, Stankovic already knows what to do once he receives Maicon's pass. The following moments flash through his mind rapidly, like slides from an old film reel. He doesn't need to look at the goal, the goalkeeper's positioning, or the opposing defenders; he has already seen it all and knows how it will end. The left-footed touch merely serves to place the ball on the right spot, then he uses his right leg like a baseball bat, a perfect swing for a home run. In Stankovic's goal, a powerful strike into the top corner that leaves the goalkeeper no chance, the principal element is the unleashed power, which has always characterized the partnership between Inter and Pirelli. A powerful shot that nestles between the post and the crossbar, breaking open the game. An apparently simple, straightforward gesture that encapsulates the essence of the Nerazzurri champion. A sudden burst of energy, a dragon's flash – one of many – that lights up the first leg of the 2006/2007 season's derby.

There's a player who, more than anyone, knew how to represent and personify one of the most repeated expressions in the world of sports: "Power is nothing without control." Wesley Sneijder could strike the ball with great force with both feet, scoring goals where the ball seemed to break the net. However, in every match, he demonstrated a technical ability and ease in handling the ball that made him a master of control. His talent in taming the ball and making it run with seemingly effortless touches had a mystical, almost supernatural energy, as if the trajectories drawn by his passes and shots were remote-controlled. One of Wes's goals tells this ability well. It's the 2010/2011 season, the match against Roma: Maicon sends an assist from the right towards the edge of the box, he tames it with his left foot, and in an instant, before an opponent can get close, he sends it on an unstoppable trajectory for the goalkeeper. It's a powerful shot, but not necessarily one of those earth-to-air missiles for which he also deserved a trademark, it's an arched trajectory that sneaks into a likely hidden corner of the goal. A goal that, of course, stems from his control, born from control and that unique ability.

Pandev is ready to receive the ball with his feet already inside the box as the game shifts to the opposite side. Around the penalty spot, attackers and defenders crowd, fighting for position. When the cross arrives, it's immediately clear that it's a soft, precise, and docile ball. The intended recipient is marked, a defender positions himself between him and the goal, preventing him from turning. However, intuition and instinct are qualities that cannot be taught, and Samuel Eto'o is one of those champions who possess them abundantly. He finds the right support on the ground, turns his back to the goalkeeper and the target; he doesn't need to look at them; he knows how to strike the ball to score. He lifts off the ground, coordinates himself, turns it in with a bicycle kick, sending it into the goal. As if it were the easiest thing in the world. March 2010, the team that would later win the Treble, Inter faced Livorno in Milan, just another midweek fixture. But Eto'o is a champion who never spared himself, never left anything undone, and against every opponent, he put everything he had on the field. If performance is the ability to manage every factor and condition to perform at the highest level in all situations, Eto'o is a unique and irreplaceable player for his teams. His performances were never affected by environmental conditions, external factors, or surprises. His qualities were always there to see, regardless of the match, regardless of the opponent; he was always at his best. From Champions League finals to the most significant moments in the history of the clubs he played for, to less epic encounters against less prestigious opponents, Eto'o always delivered the best performance.

Speed is always an added value in sports, an invaluable resource. For Pirelli, as demonstrated by its history, it's one of the essential pillars. When traveling, running, aiming for a goal, you go as fast as possible to beat opponents, overcome every obstacle, even when they're invisible. It was the same for Adriano, the Emperor who made Inter fans dream with his runs to score goals. He ran with the ball at his feet, with opponents clinging to his jersey, shorts, and shoulders. He dribbled, showed strength, and physicality. He ran the ball when Adriano kicked it with his left foot, and it often ended up behind the goalkeeper. Just hours before the kickoff of Inter-Udinese, in the 2004/2005 season, Adriano had landed in Milan, returning from Brazil, with a personal burden to carry but with the desire to put all his strength on the San Siro field to try to ease the pain of losing his father. On the field, he was unstoppable. A powerful left-footed strike unlocked the match with a long-distance free-kick. Four minutes later, a corner kick from Udinese turned into a counter-attack, a special slalom between defenders, running at supersonic speed, always with the ball at his feet. The Emperor touched the ball eleven times, and the twelfth was the shot that became a goal, a powerful left-footed strike, the lightning that tore the scene at San Siro for the second goal. Speed at its best, in all its forms, in Adriano's football.