Kimi Antonelli receives hero’s welcome at Italy vs France match
Andrea Kimi Antonelli received a hero’s welcome from football supporters during Italy’s UEFA Nations League fixture against France on Thursday night.
The newly crowned World Champion attended the match at Milan’s San Siro stadium, which serves as the home ground for AC and Inter Milan, the city’s two teams.
Invited by Italian sports figure and businessman Giovanni Malago, Antonelli’s attendance was announced to the 70,000 capacity crowd.
When the camera focused on the Mercedes driver in the stands, a significant portion of that capacity crowd – the Azzurri – cheered and sang his name.
Antonelli appeared visibly moved by the moment, underscoring his rapidly growing status in his homeland as its first Formula 1 World Champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
“I have to thank Malagò for the invitation; I’ll watch the match with him,” Antonelli said before the game. “Let’s hope Italy win, also because it’s my first time at San Siro.
“I’ll be supporting all the Azzurri and it’s going to be a wonderful experience for me.”
Antonelli enjoyed an enthralling match in which the home side defeated the French 3-1.
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