Behind this almost unimaginable string of numbers lies Sane蒂's indomitability and tenacity. 《TuttoMercatoWeb》 said, "Mihajlovic, who was from the same era as him, has now become the coach of Fiorentina, while he is still running for his life." Before the match between Inter Milan and Fiorentina, Cordoba, the vice-captain of Inter Milan, also emotionally said, "For 1000 games, what else can I say besides wishing for his next 1000 games? Javier is writing the history of football. For me, knowing him, becoming his teammate, and being able to practice with him every day is a privilege, and I have learned a lot from him. I know he always hopes to move forward and never gives up, he is the best example for all of us. He is the reason why all of our players strive to return to the team as soon as possible, because we all want to be by his side."
In the banal success studies, the measurement of a player's success includes championship titles, annual income, and extensive networks... However, compared to these, Sane蒂 possesses something that may seem worthless to people like Ibrahimovic, called "great character." The match between Inter Milan and Fiorentina holds milestone significance for Sane蒂; this will be the captain's 1000th official game, bringing him in line with legends such as Pele, Puskas, Matthews, Romario, and Fonseca, making him the 10th superstar to enter the 1000-game hall. The soul of the Inter Milan team, Sane蒂's 18-year career is more like a vivid textbook, teaching persistence and faith in the world of football in this restless society.
Loyal to Inter Milan for these 16 years, Sane蒂 can truly be called an ironman. He maintained full attendance in 6 seasons, and only missed one league game in 4 seasons. Even in the least played season of 2005/2006, he managed 25 appearances. More incredibly, from the 2006/2007 season to the 2009/2010 season during Inter Milan's four consecutive league championships, Captain Sane蒂 only missed two league games (full attendance in two seasons), unmatched across the entire Serie A! This season so far, despite once suffering from pneumothorax, Sane蒂 still participated in 33 out of 36 league games, with an attendance rate on par with Eto'o, leading the whole team! Data shows that over the past 6 years, in the last 16 years, Sane蒂 has only missed 26 league games for Inter Milan!
Even though entering the grand ceremony of his 1000th career game, Sane蒂 remains without a trace of arrogance, proceeding as usual. This is the most vivid portrayal of Sane蒂's 18-year professional life; he has never liked playing the flashy role. Instead, he prefers to silently contribute everything for the team. In the 47th minute, Sane蒂 once again staged a long-distance sprint. At that time, Sane蒂 had the ball on the right wing and moved forward, eventually losing it due to Dagostino's pulling, but Sane蒂 continued at a fast pace for over 30 meters, immediately earning enthusiastic applause from the Meazza Stadium.
Over these 15 years, Sane蒂 transformed from a dashing young man into a veteran filled with wrinkles today; from once being a transfer add-on to now being a monument in the Meazza Stadium, another legendary chapter after Facchetti and Bergomi, people understand from Sane蒂 that time changes only appearance, but leaves something unchanged called "faith."
Loved and hated by Juventus fans, praised and scorned by Inter Milan fans, and now revered by AC Milan fans, Ibrahimovic's journey has been sufficiently legendary. But in the hearts of any rational Rossoneri fan, the word "great" belongs to Baresi, Maldini, Seedorf, Nesta, or perhaps in the future to Pato, Silva, Boaten—having no relation whatsoever to Ibrahimovic, who is merely a mercenary, at best a "working emperor." Meanwhile, Sane蒂 quietly persevered for 16 years, many of which were spent without any rewards. Such hardship drove away Ronaldo, generation after generation of stars passing by Sane蒂's side, but the unwavering belief of the Argentine in blue and black remained unchanged, from a new star to captain, then to the soul of the team. Years later, when people talk about Ibrahimovic, they always prefix it with "three-surname servant," whereas when talking about Sane蒂, they affectionately say, "the young player who has accompanied us for decades."