During the Milan derby last weekend, a star was born and his name is Marcus Thuram. The forward - who was chased by Manchester United in the summer - netted in Inter's thumping 5-1 win over AC Milan on Saturday, confirming he is one of Serie A's brightest talents.
The Frenchman - son of legendary defender Lillian - has made a flying start to the season in Italy with two goals and two assists from four games. This is a season that has already seen him score his first goal for France this month.
After his beautiful finish to make it 2-0 to Inter in the derby, he has already shown to boss Simone Inzaghi that he is irreplaceable in this team.
With his strength and raw speed, Thuram is a hurricane that is blowing down everything in his path as he prepares to continue his impressive form against Real Sociedad in the Champions League.
Indeed, Erik ten Hag's failure to secure the Frenchman will make for more frustration on Man United's part after watching Harry Kane also flock to a European rival and have success in front of goal. The Red Devils ended up signing Rasmus Hojlund from Inter's rivals Atalanta for £72m and he has not yet scored.
The 26-year-old is the benchmark for Inter that the club wants to build the team around for the future. There was a real soap opera around Romelu Lukaku after Inter failed to bring him back to the San Siro but Thuram's four games in Serie A this season have put an end to all of that.
Edin Dzeko's departure to Fenerbache was also painful, but Thuram has re-written the script for Inter in attack. He is the best possible partner for Lautaro Martinez due to his incredible blend of physical strength and dynamism.
Lukaku always had a good understanding with Martinez, but Thuram makes more diagonal runs into the channels and has better technical ability.
THE BEST FREE TRANSFER IN EUROPE
It's easy to forget Thuram cost Inter nothing, and chief executive Giuseppe Marotta showed he is a true wizard in the transfer market by securing him on a free transfer, before handing him a contract worth around £5m (6m euros) a year.
Marotta also took advantage of Italy's regulations which allow tax breaks for athletes coming from abroad. Out of all the attacking players available on free transfers this summer, Thuram was certainly the best purchase.
Inter also brought in Marko Arnautovic on loan from Bologna, but he is understood to have cost around £10m as a loan fee with an obligation to make the move permanent.
Marotta can add Thuram to a selection of incredible freebees he has completed - including Andrea Pirlo and Fernando Llorente for Juventus. But unlike those two players, the Frenchman arrives in Milan at the prime of his career and with years left ahead of him.
When Thuram scores a goal, he cups his hand to his ears - bringing back memories of club legend Christian Vieri - which has only stoked up more excitement among Inter Milan supporters.
And if we are comparing the two, his movements in tight spaces are much more fluid and graceful than Vieri. However, he lacks the same killer instinct of the former Italy star who netted 123 times from 190 games between 1999 and 2005.
Thuram seems like he was destined for Inter Milan and should have arrived two years ago. After the Milan game, he reflected on his failed move to the club in August 2021, when boss Inzaghi was ready to seal a deal after Inter bid around £21m to take him from Borussia Monchengladbach.
'I should have come two years ago,' he said. 'It was still in my head and I worked at 'Gladbach to regain their trust. In the summer it was clear that I would come to Inter.'
INZAGHI HAS MADE THURAM MORE LETHAL
Interestingly enough, Thuram was initially purchased to be Lukaku's back-up and give Inzaghi another option for his 3-5-2 system. In Germany he was known for being an attacking winger with Monchengladbach - not a number 9.
But thanks to Inzaghi reworking his position, he has had a devastating impact on Inter. Thuram has had a role to play in half of the 12 goals scored by last year's Champions League runners up, summing up his role as the team's protagonist.
There is a feeling that Thuram is vital to the team even when he doesn't score. He brings the team together, utilises the ball well when he has it at his feet and provides superb link-up play with wing-back Federico Dimarco and Martinez.
He might have netted a total of 44 goals in Germany but his new revamped role could help him grow even more lethal in front of goal in Italy - opening up new opportunities and and changing his career forever.
The idea to play him further up the field was a stroke of genius by Inzaghi and giving him the No 9 shirt will fill him with confidence.
FATHER LILLIAN WAS KEY TO SERIE A MOVE
His famous father Lillian - a defensive colossus at Juventus - played a crucial role in his son Marcus moving to Serie A.
Lillian played for Parma and Juventus in Italy before the end of his playing days in Barcelona and he fell in love with the country. That led to him suggesting Italy was the best place for Thuram to develop and become a top player.
The Bundesliga is a quality league and very tactical, but Thuram felt he needed to be successful in Italy to move to the next level. Lillian is not often seen in the media too often but he is a vocal advisor to both Marcus and his other son Khephren, who plays for Nice despite being chased by Juventus last season.
Lillian has always pushed for his sons to consider offers from Serie A. The two grew up speaking Italian in their home as youngsters and he knew they would have little difficulties settling in with clubs in Italy - having followed their father around while he played in the country.
Thuram followed a different path to his father by being a striker rather than a defender, and while they are completely different positions - the former Guingamp star has already managed the same amount of goals as Lillian did in 307 appearances.