Stones: ‘Stepped out of my comfort zone with Inter, proud to be part of it’

England international defender John Stones has expressed his pride in representing Inter Milan, stating that he has stepped out of his comfort zone to join the reigning Serie A champions following a 10-year spell at Manchester City. The 32-year-old left City as a free agent and signed a two-year contract with Inter in July. Stones scored his first goal for the club in a friendly match against Real Betis, which they won 1-0.

He told the Inter club website that scoring this goal, especially for a team like Inter, is special to him. Stones praised the team's performance in the friendly, noting that everyone worked hard and deserved the victory. He expressed his excitement about being part of the club and its iconic history. Stones also mentioned that Serie A is a challenging league with many strong teams vying for Champions League spots, and that he is eager to experience a new style of football.

He reunited with former Manchester City teammate Manuel Akanji, who joined Inter on an initial loan deal before his move became permanent. Stones highlighted Akanji's humility and genuine nature, praising him as a world-class player who was lucky to share a dressing room with him at City.