Denzel Dumfries says he and Jose Mourinho regularly discuss Inter, while he remains in close contact with former team-mate Marcus Thuram after leaving the Italian club for Real Madrid.
The Netherlands international joined Real Madrid from Inter last summer after the Spanish club activated his €20m release clause, ending a five-year spell with the Nerazzurri.
Dumfries was reunited at the Bernabeu with Mourinho, a legendary former Inter coach, and says the pair have already spoken extensively about their time in Milan.
“I like him a lot; he’s a great coach. Just look at what he’s done in his career. Of course, I know about his past at Inter, too,” Dumfries told Libero.
“We’ve talked a lot about Inter. The time we spent there was very special for both of us. We love Inter; we keep following them, and we talk about it.”
Dumfries said his relationship with former Inter players remained particularly strong, with Thuram still providing regular updates.
“I talk a lot with Marcus [Thuram], and we still make the same jokes about each other, and he tells me everything,” he said. “Over these five years, we became a family. Now I follow them from afar, but I see everything.”
Asked which team-mates he had been closest to, Dumfries replied: “I don’t want to make anyone angry! Definitely Marcus, Bisseck, Hakan [Calhanoglu], Akanji, de Vrij and Onana.”
The player, Mourinho and Inter met in the Champions League round 1 at the Bernabeu this season. Dumfries said the fixture created an unusual atmosphere, although normal competitive instincts returned once the match began.
“When I saw that we were going to play against Inter, it was great,” he said. “At first, I even thought we were going to play at San Siro. I texted the guys saying: ‘I know all your tactics, you won’t be able to surprise me!’
“They joked back that they were going to play 4-4-2, so I wouldn’t know what to expect. It was really nice, although obviously a little strange. Before and after the match it was very special; during the game, though… It’s business, and you have to compete against each other.”
Dumfries said he was enjoying life in Madrid after deciding that, following five years at Inter, it was time for a new challenge.
“I really like it. It’s such a beautiful city, and I’m really happy,” he said. “To me, Real Madrid are the biggest club in the world, and it’s a privilege to play here. It had nothing to do with Inter because I had an incredible time there.”
After the 2025-26 season ended, and before the World Cup, Dumfries’ agent told him Real Madrid were interested. He immediately informed Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio, who has since left the club, and also praised Ausilio and president Giuseppe Marotta.
“We always spoke openly. Having this kind of relationship with my sporting director was very important. We did everything the right way. They were five special years,” he said.
Dumfries described Inter’s first Scudetto as his favourite memory, although he also valued the latest title and the double won under Chivu.
“The second star is something that will remain in history forever,” he said. “Winning the double with Chivu was fantastic. They were incredible years.”
