John Stones says he wants Inter supporters to remember him as a player who gave everything for the club and helped deliver trophies after making the move from Manchester to Milan this summer.
The England defender discussed his arrival at San Siro in an interview with DAZN, via TuttoMercatoWeb, describing the transfer as an experience filled with “happiness and pride”.
“I felt a lot of emotions, it was an overwhelming feeling of happiness and pride,” Stones said. “I’m really grateful for this opportunity, I’m excited to be here.”
Stones also offered an insight into his personality, saying he was “kind, happy and competitive” and had been an energetic child who was “never still, always moving”.
The experienced defender is known for being outspoken in the dressing room, although he has initially taken a quieter approach as he adapts to his new surroundings.
“I talk a lot in the dressing room, even if right now I’m observing and trying to find my place in the group,” he said. “The technical aspect I do best is passing, for the rest I have to improve in everything.”
Stones said the pressure that comes with representing a club of Inter’s stature could be beneficial if handled properly.
“When you play the pressure is always there, it’s positive,” he said. “It lets you give your best if you manage it well, and you end up getting used to it. It’s about knowing what you’ve done in the past and during the week so you feel good in the game.”
His immediate priority is recovering from the muscle injury that forced him to leave the pitch against Udinese. Stones posted earlier this week that he had already begun working towards a return after the international break.
That injury kept him out of Inter’s 2-2 draw at Roma, where Cristian Chivu’s side fought back from two goals behind. His availability would give Chivu another experienced defensive option as Inter seek to avoid similar starts in future matches.
Stones said his competitive instincts remained central to his approach, while reflecting on the progress he made during his time at Manchester City.
“I always give 100 per cent, I’m competitive, I love winning and I leave everything on the pitch,” he said. “I think I’ve grown a lot as a person and as a player. I had so much success and built so many friendships and memories at City.”
Scoring for Inter in a friendly gave him a first memorable moment with his new club.
“When I scored for Inter in a friendly it felt almost unreal,” he said. “I was really happy, it was a special day.”
He added: “I’d like to be remembered by the fans for having given everything for the team, for the club and for the shirt. And for having won.”
