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Inter Milan Vice President visits Tbilisi, highlights importance of UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Zanetti also responded to Agenda.ge’s question regarding the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship to be co-hosted by Georgia in June, saying that it is a “big challenge” and it will “contribute to increasing” the level of football in the country. Photo via Inter Academy Georgia

Agenda.ge, 23 Apr 2023 - 18:24, Tbilisi,Georgia

The legendary Argentinian captain of Milan's famed FC Internazionale club, currently the club's Vice President, Javier Zanetti, along with the delegation, on Friday arrived in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi on a two-day visit.

Zanetti commenced his visit with a special training session for 500 children signed up to the Inter Academy Georgia - a local offshoot of the Academy of Inter Milan launched in 2021 in collaboration with Tbilisi's New Vision University.

Photo via Inter Academy Georgia

The Inter Vice President also met the media and attended a traditional gala dinner with key local institutions. Zanetti inspected the infrastructure of Inter Academy Georgia together with the rector of New Vision University, Davit Kereselidze and the Director of the Academy Anna Tsereteli.

Zanetti thanked representatives of New Vision University for their hospitality, noting that the foundation of the Academy in Georgia in 2021 was an important step for Inter. "I am sure we will be able to do many good things together. My presence here is proof that the cooperation is developing well",  Zanetti said.

It's a special feeling to experience first-hand the excitement that the Georgian children feel when they put on the Inter jersey. Inter Academy Georgia embodies the values that have always underpinned the club in terms of educating new generations coming through, and this is why it is an even bigger pleasure to be here to celebrate the resounding success of this project", he noted.

Photo via Inter Academy Georgia

At the press conference, Agenda.ge asked him what he would advise Georgian teenagers who are just becoming interested in football. "Never stop dreaming and live with sports values until the end”, he said, adding “I was shaped by this kind of attitude".

Zanetti also responded to Agenda.ge’s question regarding the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship to be co-hosted by Georgia in June, saying that it is a “big challenge” and it will “contribute to increasing” the level of football in the country.

On Saturday, Zanetti awarded Inter Milan Academy and Saburtalo FC youth teams at the second edition of the Italian Embassy Cup, organised annually in cooperation with the International Foundation of Sport, Tourism and Youth of Georgia. The Ambassador of Italy to Georgia, Enrico Valvo, stressed that Zanetti’s presence was “especially appreciated”  by young people participating in the Italian Embassy Cup.