Farewell to Nazzareno Canuti, great protagonist with Inter. And also at Milan

Italian soccer is mourning the passing of Nazzareno Canuti. The former defender passed away at the age of 70, which he turned on January 15. A Mantuan from Bozzolo, Canuti played between the 1970s and 1980s, covering both central and full-back roles. Growing up in Inter’s youth sector, it was with the Nerazzurri shirt that he experienced the most important moments of his career: two Italian Cups, won in 1978 and 1982, and the 1980 Scudetto under Eugenio Bersellini.

Great Inter fan, he collected 183 appearances in seven seasons with the team he loved most. His path also included an experience on the other side of the Naviglio: in the 1982/83 season he was in fact sold on loan to Milan, then in Serie B, and with the Rossoneri he won the cadet tournament, helping to bring them back to the most important national stage.After stops at Genoa, where he stayed from 1983 to 1985, and at Catania, wearing the Rossoazzurri colors until the spring of 1988, Canuti ended his career in the 1988/89 season with Solbiatese, scoring thirty appearances and one goal, but above all, winning the then Interregional championship with much promotion to C2.

In his early professional years, he had also worn the jersey of the National Under-21 team, making ten appearances. Once he left playing soccer, he took up a business in the commercial sector, working for Sony together with Evaristo Beccalossi, his former teammate at Inter of the Scudetto.

The team’s first goal was to become a player in the Inter championship.

“Nazzareno Canuti has left us. A product of the Youth Sector, in the Nerazzurri 183 appearances and 7 seasons. With Inter he won two Italian Cups and the 1979-80 championship, always honoring the jersey with pride, dedication and spirit of sacrifice. FC Internazionale Milano and all the Nerazzurri people huddle around his family members,” the Nerazzurri club’s remembrance.