“I got married” – Javier Zanetti reveals hilarious Taribo West story that left Inter Milan teammates stunned

Javier Zanetti, the iconic former Inter Milan captain and current vice president, has revealed the two most amusing players he encountered during his illustrious career: Nigerian defender Taribo West and Brazilian fullback Maicon, Soccernet.football reports.

Speaking during an event hosted by Volvo, Inter’s sponsor, Zanetti offered a glimpse into the personalities that lit up his 19-year spell with the Nerazzurri.

Zanetti, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest right-backs, spent his entire European career at Inter Milan after arriving from Argentina in 1995.

During his tenure, the 51-year-old won five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia crowns, and the coveted UEFA Champions League in 2010 among several other club and individual honours.

Among his countless memories, sharing a dressing room with Taribo West between 1997 and 2000 left a lasting impression.

“Taribo West and Maicon,” Zanetti said when asked to name the funniest players he worked with, as per Area Napoli.

“Once, Taribo invited me, Zamorano, and Cordoba to one of his church services.

“Another time, he disappeared, and we had no idea where he was. One day, he showed up at the Pinetina training ground wearing his tunic.

“We asked, ‘Where have you been?’ He replied, ‘I got married.’ We said, ‘But we’ve played four matches in the meantime!’ He answered, ‘Brother, in my country, when someone gets married, they take a month off.’”

Known for his disciplined leadership, Zanetti also reflected on the emotional transition from player to executive after his retirement in 2014:

“I thought it marked the end of a very significant chapter in my life. I gave everything I had. Now, a new chapter has begun, equally important, where I’m trying to learn a new profession. In this phase too, I’ll strive to uphold the values of Inter.”

Zanetti’s career statistics underline his legacy. He played 1,115 official matches, with 615 Serie A appearances — making him the league’s most-capped foreign player.

With Argentina, he earned 145 caps, appearing in two Copa América finals and two Confederations Cup finals.

His contributions to football were immortalised when Inter retired his No. 4 jersey and appointed him vice president, solidifying his position as a symbol of the club’s golden era.