Inter Milan striker Mehdi Taremi has acknowledged that his performances haven’t been up to par since his summer arrival from Porto. He disclosed that, similar to Marcus Thuram, he has been relying on painkillers to play at various points throughout the season.
The Iranian international was in the starting lineup for Inter’s Champions League round of 16 second leg match at San Siro, partnering Thuram in attack.
Taremi joined Inter as a free agent after his contract with Porto expired. During his time at Porto, he maintained an impressive scoring record, netting 91 goals in 182 appearances across all competitions. However, he has found it challenging to replicate that form in Italy, scoring only one goal in 20 league appearances, many of which were as a substitute.
Taremi: ‘I Know Fans Expected More, Playing in Pain is Tough’
In a pre-match interview with Sky Sport Italia, Taremi, 32, expressed his awareness that fans had higher expectations for him this season.
“I’ve been dealing with numerous injuries this year and have frequently played while taking painkillers. I understand that the fans anticipated more from me, but it’s challenging to perform when you’re in pain.”
“I am committed to doing my best to live up to those expectations. We need to be competitive and united; it will undoubtedly be a good game.”
Taremi’s teammate, Thuram, recently also spoke about the difficulties of playing through pain and depending on pain medication.
Both players started upfront against Feyenoord due to the absence of captain Lautaro Martinez, who has been experiencing muscular fatigue.