Just seven minutes had elapsed in Inter's Europa
League meeting with Cluj on February 14 when Diego
Milito injured his left knee while trying to make a tackle.
The Argentine immediately knew that he had done
some serious damage to himself.
"The pain was ever so strong," Milito explained. "I'd
never had serious injuries before, and any injuries I had
were always in my muscles: they do not compare with
that pain."
Subsequent scans revealed that the veteran forward
had ruptured cruciate ligaments, prompting many
pundits to wonder not whether he would return the
same player, but if he would return at all. On Sunday,
he answered that question emphatically.
Milito made his competitive return to action shortly
after half-time in Inter's Serie A clash with Sassuolo.
Within 10 minutes he had put the Nerazzurri 5-0 up
with a near-post finish from a Ricky Alvarez cross.
After teeing up Esteban Cambiasso for Inter's sixth,
Milito then put the seal on a perfect day for his team,
and indeed himself, with another classic poacher's goal.
"One would be hard pressed to find anyone who would
begrudge Milito such a sensational comeback," enthuses
Goal's Mark Doyle.
"This is a player who is respected by all and sundry
within Serie A, and now more so than ever. As Inter
president Massimo Moratti said, Milito deserved this
emotional return as both an athlete and a person.
"Indeed, it was wholly in keeping with the man's
character that he was keen to deflect all of the praise
onto his team-mates.
"In that sense, Milito truly is a prince among men - and
most neutrals would agree that it is great to have him
back."
Congratulations to Diego Milito, Goal's 228th
World Player of the Week winner!
The Shortlist
Pepe Reina - Napoli
@SG8Official: "Pepe Reina has done what no
other keeper has ever done before. He saved a penalty
from Mario Balotelli."
Goal's Mark Doyle: "Game-winning stop from a Reus
free-kick against Dortmund before pulling off the
seemingly impossible in 2-1 win at Milan."
Cristiano Ronaldo - R. Madrid
@KayLMurray: "Cristiano Ronaldo is now the fifth
top scorer of all time in Madrid's history."
Goal's Gonzalo Ruiz: "Underlined just why Madrid were
willing to make him the world's best-paid player with
five goals in two games."
Yaya Toure - Manchester City
@Sportive23: "Jamie Carragher on
Yaya Toure:
'It's like watching a full international player going up
against under-16s.'"
Goal's Sammy Lee: "Scored against Cluj before striking
again during a man-of-the-match-winning display in the
Manchester derby."
Victor Valdes - Barcelona
@AlexandraJohnson: "Is it the time for Victor
Valdes Arribas to finally get the recognition he
deserves?!"
"Saved a late penalty in the
midweek win over Ajax before repeating the feat early
on in the victory at Rayo Vallecano."
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