On 10 June in Istanbul, Manchester City and Inter Milan will battle it out for Europe’s most celebrated football trophy, the Champions League, forming an unrivaled pairing in the history of European competition.

They have never met each other, they have little in common. In the books of statistics only two mates found which they both opposed. One in Baltimore at the Pirelli Cup in the summer of 2010, in which the Milanese with Rafael Benitez on the bench beat them 3-0 with goals from Victor Obina and Cristiano Biraghi, and the other in the Dublin tournament in 2011, where City dominated the same score with goals from Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and Adam Johnson.

The history of Anglo-Italian battles in UEFA finals may be rich, as there are ten of them, some of them unforgettable, but such a duet is rare. Perhaps because when the heyday of one began, the period of decline of the other began.

Hidden in these two games is a great gladiator link that is still active :O Edin Dzeko. Why there’s another dormant: Current Italy manager Roberto Mancini, who in 2008 said yes to City’s call to reform it by leaving the Nerazzurri, giving them three league titles in a row.

The Bundesliga “united” them

Dzeko for five years 2011-2016 played for the “citizens”, which is now Haaland. The striker who will “break” the nets, who will score as many goals as possible. Like the Norwegian, he came from the Bundesliga and Wolfsburg, scoring picks there, netting 66 goals in 111 matches.

turn it off second most expensive transfer in City history (after Robinho) and the 6th in the history of the Premier League after its cost of 37 million euros. She was very loved by her fans, which is now happening with the Norwegian. Both of their names became a song at the Etihad stadium.

Last summer, the management of the English club in search of a “battleship” to attack the team, Dzeko’s form was what they had in mind and they chose Haaland, not Kane or Vlahovic.

The Bosnian striker has always seemed to be second in City’s attack behind Sergio Aguero. Indeed, as he said in an unsuspecting moment, he was lucky and unlucky to coexist with the Argentine.

Despite all this, he scored some very important goals. Possibly even more decisive than Aguero, as he was in 2011-2012, with QPR in delays. The goal that sealed the first league title in 44 years.

In 2012–13, he made 32 appearances (16 as a starter) for the Premier League, again scoring 14 goals, and the 2013–14 season, in which he again celebrated a league victory, was his highest scorer in the league.

In fact, the 9 goals he scored in the last 11 games of the season essentially gave the Blues the title, a title they took from Liverpool’s hands.

In addition to scoring 10 qualifying goals, he led Bosnia and Herzegovina to the 2014 World Cup, the first major tournament in their history.

At the end of August 2014, his management extended his contract ahead of schedule until 2018. However, a poor year followed with 4 goals in 22 matches and he left in the summer of 2015 with a total of 189 appearances and 72 goals.

During his time at the club, Dzeko divided his fans. Some saw him for what he was: one ruthless centre-forward in the box who, however, has other things to do while helping his teammates.

Some others stood in often his sluggish movements without a ball, taking it for laziness.

When City, under Mancini and Pellegrini, struggled to combine results and spectacular football with players like James Milner and Pablo Zambaletta taking credit for seemingly doing something, Dzeko seemed to be “walking “.

Was not and is not especially now, a player who will chase and press opponents like Haaland. But in relation to the “immature” still Norwegian, he has experience act flawlessly when given the opportunity. And if there is one thing that Guardiola can fear against Inter, it is that he will be given a split-second opportunity to execute a kick.

His name becomes the slogan of City fans even in home and away matches. In its purest form, Haaland had already begun to have more success. However, there are things that are harder to measure. For example, a goal that gives you the championship in stoppage time.

Even if they move across the field in different ways, with the lazy pace of the game and the light-heartedness of Jacko, there is no comparison to the passion and drive of his 14-year-old colleagueEven now, at the age of 37, the Bosnian centre-forward remains for Inter a man who internally shares the hope that he will beat the team in the final. Like he did in the first semi-final against Milan when he opened the scoring. How he does quietly yet so effectively with his experience this season.

For this reason, after all, a week ago, he reportedly agreed with the club about extended the contract for another year. At an age when most people hang their shoes on the floor and especially after such a course or trying to make the last “tack”, he himself did not refuse to reduce his salary by 1 million a year keep playing.

Resilience and stability are elements that still characterize the war child from Sarajevo, who has been playing at the San Siro since 2021, with a total of 107 appearances, 34 goals, 16 assists and winning 1 Coppa Italia and 2 Super Cups. Italian Cups with “Il Biscione”.

“log‘, as was the nickname given to him at his first club Zheleznikar, in England City fans turned him into a ‘diamond’. This is what they hope not to “shine” at City for their team to win the first Champions League in their history.