)
In 1997, Massimo Moratti, the president of Inter Milan, harboured ambitious goals, with Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima as his main target.
His vision was to restore the club's prominence in both Italian and European football.
In a move that would forever alter Inter Milan's history, President Massimo Moratti signed a 20-year-old Ronaldo, already known as "Il Fenomeno" (The Phenomenon), from Barcelona.
The $27 million transfer, a world record at the time, sent a clear message: a new era had arrived at Inter.
For Italian fans accustomed to years of defensive, tactical football, the young Brazilian's arrival was like a superstar descending from another galaxy.
)
11:01 - 25.05.2025
Brazil Legend Ronaldo Pressured into Sale of Stake at Spanish Club
Brazilian football legend Ronaldo has sold his stake in Spanish Club after fan protests and the club’s relegation from LaLiga.
)
09:55 - 26.05.2025
Ronaldo missing from Real Madrid’s top 5 most decorated Players
Ronaldo missing from the top 5 players with most trophies for Madrid
The last time such excitement gripped the nation was when Diego Maradona joined Napoli. Serie A was once again the center of the footballing world, thanks to Inter.
Fast, powerful, technically flawless,
Ronaldo scored his first Serie A goal in the second game of the 1997/98 season against Bologna, wearing what he'd later call one of his favourite away kits.
He was fast, powerful, technically flawless – a combination rarely seen in European football. His blistering runs, mesmerizing dribbling skills, and ability to change a game in an instant made him a nightmare for defenders, even in a league renowned for its world-class backlines.
)
That season, Ronaldo netted 25 league goals, earning him the Serie A Footballer of the Year award.
He also claimed his first Ballon d'Or and capped off the season by winning the UEFA Cup, defeating Lazio in the final at the Parc des Princes – a game in which he was unstoppable.
)
This trophy was particularly significant for Inter, marking their return to the elite and symbolising the club's new era.
Ronaldo wasn't just a player; he was a spectacle. Stadiums across Italy were packed, not just when Inter played, but when Ronaldo played. A week with an Inter game became a footballing festival.
)
His name became synonymous with on-field magic. Ask any defender from Serie A's golden age who their toughest opponent was, and the answer, almost without hesitation, would be: Ronaldo. Ask any fan who defined the magic of late-90s football, and they'd say: Ronaldo.
And when you see that old Inter Milan number 10 shirt, you don't even need to read the name on the back. You know who it is. Ronaldo. Il Fenomeno.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)