The fans of Inter Milan are getting accustomed to a new star in their squad: Mehdi Taremi, whose name may soon become a household one within the Nerazzurri’s ranks. The Iranian forward impressed once again during Inter’s recent friendly against Las Palmas, netting two goals in a commanding 3-0 victory at the Dino Manuzzi Stadium in Cesena, which was packed with supporters of all ages.
Taremi, who had already scored in previous matches, opened the scoring with a penalty—his specialty, having scored 54 of 63 career attempts—and followed up with a simple finish inside the box. His two quickfire goals in the first half (12th and 38th minutes) were a testament to his exceptional form, bringing his tally to five goals in just three games for Inter this summer.
The match showcased Inter’s growth during preseason, with many well-structured plays and moments where the ball moved fluidly. One standout performer was Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who has been training hard since the start of the buildup to the new season. The experienced midfielder distributed passes with the energy and precision of a player in his prime and even took up a second striker role in the second half. Piotr Zielinski, on the other hand, appeared a bit lackluster on the right side, managing just one disappointing shot that soared into the stands—a reasonable performance considering he has only been back training for about ten days.
Head coach Simone Inzaghi was very involved throughout the match, applauding Lautaro Martinez for his adventurous plays, encouraging Joaquin Correa after a few blocked shots, and frequently calling out to 19-year-old Kamate, who played on the right wing but needs to improve defensively as evidenced by a few slips during the game. The fans’ calls of “Cama” echoed often in the stadium, showing their support for the young talent.
Taremi’s overall performance stood out, as he made the most of his limited touches, barely missing any opportunities. Inzaghi has been particularly impressed with the Iranian’s consistency during training sessions, as he seems to find the back of the net without fail.
In the second half, several other players made their preseason debuts, including Acerbi, Darmian, Barella, Dimarco, Frattesi, and Bastoni. The fans welcomed them warmly, especially Acerbi, who had recently recovered from surgery that kept him out of the European Championship. Highlights from the second half included a clever no-look pass from Barella to Dimarco, some strong dribbles from Bisseck, and a well-placed pass from Bastoni to Frattesi, which unfortunately ended with a shot saved by the goalkeeper.
Dimarco capped off the game with a stunning lob from about 25 meters out, demonstrating his return to form. After the match, fans gathered near the Inter bench to seek selfies and autographs from their heroes. Some fans even managed to sneak onto the field, where they found Acerbi running between the goalposts. He generously paused for a quick selfie before continuing his routine, embodying the tireless spirit of a true Highlander.
