Marco Materazzi, the famous Italy defender and World Cup winner, will be in India on scouting duty for Inter Milan’s academy in Hosur, come May 22.  

“Marco will be flying to Bangalore on May 22. He will oversee the launch of the Inter academy in Hosur. We are planning to get him to Chennai to have a look at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the venue of one of Inter's development centres in India," elucidated a senior club official to The Times of India.

It has been learnt that the Inter Academy will be inaugurated on May 23, with a view to make it completely operational by June 1. To this effect, the Nerazzuri’s scouting team will arrive in Mumbai beginning May 13. They include Marco Monti, technical director, fitness coach Stefano Rapetti and a senior coach, Raphael.

Among the people overseeing the operations of the academy will be recently retired Inter stalwart and Argentine international, Javier Zanetti alongside a few first team coaches.

Materazzi is expected to hit Mumbai on May 21 to recce talent for Inter’s academy from the Nike Under-15 5-a-side-tourney, which is being held at the Cooperage and Andheri’s sports complex.

"Inter Milan will scout talent in Mumbai during the tournament. It is to get a strong initial pool of enthusiastic kids for our academy. "The plan for Monti & Stefano is to introduce the Inter Milan syllabus on the module of coaching. The academy will follow the exact advanced curriculum followed in Milan.

“We also have tie-up with some schools in Chennai and Bangalore from where we'll spot talent. The same process will be followed in Kochi, Mumbai and Hyderabad as well,"  revealed the official, with Materazzi expected to help the scouts in choosing the best player and team of the tournament.

Explaining their stand on the Inter mission, a Nike Spokesperson explained, "We will have the semifinals and final on May 24. The winning team will train at Inter's academy. Materazzi will help choosing a deserving candidate from the tournament, who will get to train with Inter's junior team at San Siro Stadium in Milan."