Stones’ debut strike fuels Inter’s Champions League ambition

Under the bright lights of the Stadio San Nicola in Bari, John Stones rose in the final minutes to head home a right‑footed finish against Betis, marking his first goal for Inter and signalling his intent to help the Nerazzurri chase Champions League places.

A right‑footed welcome for Lautaro

“Un destro alla Lautaro per presentarsi al mondo Inter e dire a tutti ‘ok, ci divertiamo’,” the club’s statement read, using the phrase “alla Lautaro” that embeds both Al and La. The message framed Stones’ arrival as a bold statement of fun and ambition for the Italian giants.

Stones’ debut goal in Bari

Stones entered the match a quarter of an hour from the end and, minutes later, surged into the penalty area, out‑jumping defenders after a free‑kick on the three‑quarters line. He turned a right‑footed strike onto the far post, a finish worthy of a striker, to secure the win over Betis.

World Cup link and the Toro

The goal came exactly one month after the Mondiale semifinal against Argentina del Toro, a match played at San Nicola where the Argentine forward also featured. That historic encounter provided a poignant backdrop for Stones’ celebration.

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Before joining Inter, the English centre‑back landed at Appiano after sweeping all trophies with Manchester City, where he contributed to four league titles in the 2020‑21 season. In his career he has netted three goals for England – two of them at the 2018 World Cup against Panama – and 21 for his clubs.

At the final whistle Stones declared himself “happy and proud of my first goal in nerazzurro.” He added that the Inter shirt is “one of the most beautiful in football history,” and expressed excitement to write new chapters, acknowledging the difficulty of Serie A and the fight for Champions spots.

Inter also reunited Stones with former teammate Manuel Akanji, a 2023 final winner against the Nerazzurri, and national colleague Djed Spence, whom he praised as a fantastic, genuine world‑class player. The defensive unit now faces the task of tightening up and delivering trophies to Inter supporters.