Inter Milan, one of the most decorated football clubs in Italian football history, boasts an enviable trophy cabinet that includes 20 Serie A titles, 9 Coppa Italia and 8 Supercoppa Italiana crowns.
Quite a number of Nigerian stars have graced the iconic San Siro Stadium and left their legacies in the club’s rich history. In this article, Footynaija.com brings the best five, ranked based on their various levels of impact in the iconic blue and black stripes.
5. Victor Moses
Moses joined the Nerazzurri on a six-month loan deal from Chelsea in the 2020 January transfer window, after his loan spell at Fenerbahce was cut short. He made his debut in a Coppa Italia quarter-final win over Fiorentina and made his Serie A debut just days later. During his time at Inter, he made 20 appearances without scoring a goal. Though he didn’t win any trophies, he was part of the squad that finished as runners-up in both Serie A and the UEFA Europa League in the 19/20 season.
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4. Nwankwo Kanu
In 1996, Kanu joined Inter Milan after winning Olympic gold with Nigeria. However, a heart defect which was eventually operated on delayed his debut for the Nerazzurri. After his recovery, Kano eventually managed just 20 appearances with one goal to his name. He left in 1999 to join Arsenal, going on to revive his career.
3. Joel Obi
Obi began his career at Inter Milan, rising through the youth ranks and winning the Under-17 “Allievi Nazionali” championship in 2008. He caught the eye of Jose Mourinho who made him part of the Nerazzurri’s registered squad that won the UEFA Champions League in 2010. Obi officially broke into the first team under Rafael Benitez, making his debut in September 2010 and spent five seasons with Inter Milan (2010–2015), making 71 appearances and scoring 2 goals.
2. Taribo West
The iconic Nigerian defender joined Inter Milan in June 1997 on a four-year deal from Auxerre. During his time at the Italian club, he made 64 appearances and scored 2 goals. He played a key role in Inter’s successful 97/98 UEFA Cup campaign, scoring a decisive extra-time winner in the quarter-finals against Schalke 04, though he was sent off in the final against Lazio, which Inter won.
1. Obafemi Martins
Martins joined Inter Milan in 2001 for €750,000 and initially starred in the youth team, scoring 23 goals and helping them win the 01/02 Campionato Nazionale Primavera. He made his senior debut in December 2002 and became a regular in the 02/03 season. The speedster played for Inter until 2006, making 136 appearances and scoring 49 goals across all competitions. He was instrumental in their 04/05 Coppa Italia triumph, notably scoring a hat-trick against Bologna. Martins also featured in Inter’s 02/03 UEFA Champions League run, scoring in the semi-final against rivals AC Milan. He left the club in August 2006 after Inter signed Hernan Crespo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
