Players who played for Milan and Inter
Clarence Seedorf is one of the most prominent foreign players to play for both big Milan clubs
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Milan and Inter: two clubs on either side of one of world football’s fiercest rivalries â but a divide which has been crossed more times than you might expect through the years.
Matias Silvestre, 2013
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32. Matias Silvestre
Argentine centre-back Matias Silvestre started out with Boca Juniors but spent the bulk of his career in Italy, representing a string of Serie A clubs.
Francesco Acerbi, 2012
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31. Francesco Acerbi
Capped 34 times by Italy, towering centre-half Francesco Acerbi spent most of his early career in the lower divisions, eventually arriving at Milan in 2012.
Matteo Darmian, 2024
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30. Matteo Darmian
Born in nearby Legnano, Matteo Darmian joined Milan as a youngster and rose through their youth ranks to make his first-team debut aged 16.
Thomas Helveg, 1999
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29. Thomas Helveg
One of Denmarkâs best players of all time, Thomas Helveg won all of the biggest honours at Milan, departing in 2003 a European champion.
Andrea Poli, 2012
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28. Andrea Poli
A five-time Italy international, midfielder Andrea Poli joined Inter on a season-long loan from Sampdoria in 2011.
Leonardo Bonucci, 2018
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27. Leonardo Bonucci
Among Italyâs finest defenders, Leonardo Bonucci turned out for Inter and Milan either side of his trophy-laden eight-year spell with Juventus.
Sulley Muntari, 2008
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26. Sulley Muntari
Following spells with Udinese and Portsmouth, Ghanaian midfield great Sulley Muntari joined Inter in 2008 â much to the reluctance of Pompey boss Harry Redknapp, who described him as âa târiffic young talentâ (of course he did).
Dario Simic, 2006
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25. Dario Simic
A star of Croatiaâs run to the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup, Dario Simic left Dinamo Zagreb for Inter midway through the 1998/99 season.
Taribo West, 1999
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24. Taribo West
Cult favourite Nigeria centre-back Taribo West had a globetrotting career which took him from France to Iran via Partizan Belgrade and, er, Plymouth.
Giampaolo Pazzini, 2013
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23. Giampaolo Pazzini
Striker Giampaolo Pazzini posted double-figure goal returns for Inter and Milan in 2010/11 and 2012/13 respectively.
Edgar Davids after signing for Inter in 2004
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22. Edgar Davids
Dutch midfield maestro Edgar Davids became one of the earliest beneficiaries of the Bosman ruling when he completed a free transfer to Milan in the summer 1996, having made a name for himself at Ajax.
Christian Panucci, 1995
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21. Christian Panucci
A reliable right-back who won 57 caps for Italy, Christian Panucci spent the best years of his career with Roma.
Antonio Cassano, 2013
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20. Antonio Cassano
Given his propensity for falling out with teammates and coaches, itâs not really surprising that Antonio Cassano played for eight clubs at an average of close to one every two years.
Victor Benitez with AC Milan ahead of the 1963 European Cup final
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19. Victor Benitez
One of two non-Italian members of Milanâs 1962/63 European Cup-winning team (the other being Brazilian Dino Sani), Peruvian defensive midfielder Victor Benitez had two spells with the Rossoneri.
Mario Balotelli, 2010
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18. Mario Balotelli
Having started out with lower-league outfit Lumezzane, Mario Balotteli joined Inter as a teenager and went on to score 28 goals in 86 first-team outings â doing the treble in 2009/10 under Jose Mourinho.
Christian Vieri, 2005
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17. Christian Vieri
Right up there with Italyâs greatest centre-forwards of all time, Christian Vieri hit peak form during his time at Inter, racking up 123 goals in 190 appearances and winning the 2004/05 Coppa Italia.
Aldo Serena, 1990
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16. Aldo Serena
Capped 24 times by Italy, featuring at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, Aldo Serena had two spells with both Inter and Milan.
Sergio Battistini during the 1993/94 season
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15. Sergio Battistini
Starting out at Milan, adaptable full-back Sergio Battistini made more than 100 appearances for the Rossoneri â winning two Serie B titles during a tumultuous period in the clubâs history â before leaving for Fiorentina in 1985.
Hakan Calhanoglu, 2019
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14. Hakan Calhanoglu
Turkish midfield superstar Hakan Calhanoglu left Milan to join Inter on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.
Patrick Vieira, 2008
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11. Patrick Vieira
Before he etched his name into Arsenal history as one of the Gunnersâ most legendary players, Patrick Vieira made five appearances for Milan â who he joined from French outfit Cannes in 1995.
Hernan Crespo, 2005
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12. Hernan Crespo
Among Serie Aâs most formidable strikers of the late 90s and early 00s, Hernan Crespo scored freely for Parma and Lazio before being snapped up by Inter in 2002.
Ronaldo, 1998
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11. Ronaldo
In the space of barely a decade, the âoriginalâ Ronaldo completed the exceedingly rare feat of playing for not just both Milan rivals but the two El Clasico clubs too.
Aldo Cevenini (middle) with the Italy national team, 1910
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10. Aldo Cevenini
Among the first ever Italian internationals, Aldo Cevenini began his career with now-defunct Milan club Libertas, joining the Milan in 1909.
Luigi Cevenini during the 1920/21 season
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9. Luigi Cevenini
The middle Cevenini brother, Luigi also started out at Libertas before alternating between Milan and Inter.
Roberto Baggio, 1999
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8. Roberto Baggio
Italyâs greatest player of the 90s and one of their biggest stars of all time, the inimitable Roberto Baggio won his second career Scudetto with Milan in 1995/96 (having done the same at Juventus the previous season).
Giorgio Ghezzi saves from Benfica’s Jose Torres during the 1963 European Cup final
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7. Giorgio Ghezzi
Nicknamed âKamikazeâ for his no-holds-barred approach to goalkeeping, Giorgio Ghezzi racked up almost 200 appearances for Inter and well over 100 for Milan.
Andrea Pirlo, 2004
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6. Andrea Pirlo
The compulsively watchable midfield maestro who won almost everything the game has to offer, Andrea Pirlo turned out for all three of Italyâs biggest clubs.
Fulvio Collovati, 1980s
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5. Fulvio Collovati
Among Italyâs best ever defenders and a key player in the Azzurriâs 1982 World Cup victory, Fulvio Collovati made more than 100 appearances for both Milan and Inter.
Clarence Seedorf, 2000
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4. Clarence Seedorf
Another all-time great midfielder, Clarence Seedorf is the only player to win the Champions League / European Cup with three clubs.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 2023
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3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Undoubtedly one of the greatest strikers in the history of the game, Zlatan Ibrahimovic got his hands on no fewer than 34 trophies.
Lorenzo Buffon, 1954
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2. Lorenzo Buffon
A distant relative of that Buffon, Lorenzo Buffon was right up there with the finest goalkeepers of his generation.
Giuseppe Meazza, 1930s
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1, Giuseppe Meazza
Weâve been calling it the San Siro â as most English speakers do â but Milan and Interâs home ground is officially called the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza â and itâs named after this man, arguably the greatest Italian footballer of all time.
Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open…
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