Rugged Acerbi the symbol of Inter's bid to make history

Francesco Acerbi could crown his long, turbulent career with the biggest prize in club soccer after bouncing back from cancer, depression and alcoholism to play a key part in Inter Milan's charge to the Champions League final.

The Italy international's stoppage-time equalizer was probably the defining moment in Inter's barely believable semifinal triumph over Barcelona, as the oldest player in an aging team.

A 37-year-old centerback, Acerbi had to be the most surprising goal scorer in a tie for the ages, finding himself in the opposition penalty area to smash in his first ever Champions League goal, just as the game looked up for Inter.

Everything about his goal embodied the fighting spirit Inter has shown in its two classic wins over Barca and, in the previous round, Bayern Munich.

Acerbi hammered home Denzel Dumfries' low cross with his unfavored right foot, which was sporting a boot with a hole in it, before stripping off to reveal a rangy body covered with tattoos.

The somewhat rugged image contrasted with slick, youthful Barca, led by teenage phenomenon Lamine Yamal.

"It was a really special moment. I could feel that something changed when the ball hit the net," said Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu on Monday.

"It was the moment that we realized that we could win the match."

Despite his age, Acerbi is Simone Inzaghi's first choice in the heart of Inter's three-man central defense, and will start against Paris Saint-Germain in Munich on Saturday.

Acerbi has come through some tough times, both on the field and off it, battling depression following the death of his father while he was briefly at AC Milan over a decade ago, and then two bouts of testicular cancer, which he believes were the catalyst for him to turn his life around.

"After my dad died, I crashed and hit rock bottom. I was at Milan and nothing stimulated me. I didn't even know how to play anymore," he said in 2019.

"I started drinking, I drank everything. Cancer saved me. I had something to fight against again, something to overcome.

"I asked myself, 'what do you do if it comes back?' And I decided that I would face it again. I saw things clearly, and I know that, from one day to the next, everything could change.

"I'd even say that the disease improved me... I stopped dreaming, I prefer, now, to set myself achievable goals."

One of those targets was the Italy team, which he reached at the age of 31 when — after a couple of friendly appearances earlier in his career — he played his first official Azzurri match against Finland in September 2019, netting his one and only international goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina two months later.

Acerbi has been rewarded for his memorable season by a recall to the Italy set-up for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Norway and Moldova, a first call-up since March last year.

But, he was forced to leave his last Azzurri training camp after allegations that he racially abused Juan Jesus during a highly-charged match between Inter and Napoli.

Acerbi was spared punishment by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) due to a lack of evidence, the disciplinary authorities saying that "the discriminatory content... seems to have been perceived only by the offended player".

Napoli was so outraged at the decision that it pulled out of the FIGC's "purely cosmetic" anti-racism initiatives, while Jesus felt "bitter" about the decision, which saved Acerbi from a 10-match ban that would have ended his season right before Euro 2024.

Acerbi ended up missing the Euros with injury, and hamstring problems dogged him during the first half of this season, but he has come roaring back and could yet lead Inter to an era-defining triumph.

AFP