Inter Milan Veteran Midfielder Recalls His First Meeting With Hernanes: “He Wanted To Learn Armenian Alphabet From Me” | OneFootball

Inter Milan star Henrikh Mkhitaryan recalled his first meeting with former Nerazzurri playmaker Hernanes.

Speaking to Cronache di Spogliatoio via FCInterNews, Mkhitaryan shared an anecdote from their first encounter.

Before launching his illustrious European career, Henrikh Mkhitaryan impressed everyone in his homeland.

Indeed, after starring for Pyunik, the versatile midfielder received a tempting offer to join the Sao Paulo training camp.

Furthermore, the former Manchester United and Arsenal ace found himself in the same room with none other than Hernanes.

Aptly named the Prophet, Hernanes was one of the most skilled midfielders in Serie A in the 2010s.

He arrived in Italy in 2010, signing for Lazio before moving to Inter in 2014.

Yet, after just one season at Giuseppe Meazza, he joined Juventus, where he stayed until 2017.

Meanwhile, Hernanes emerged as one of Brazil’s standout talents during his early days at Sao Paulo.

That’s where he had a chance to meet Mkhitaryan.

Inter Milan Ace Henrikh Mkhitaryan Hails Hernanes

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Now in the autumn of his playing career, Mkhitaryan recalled his beginnings, revealing an anecdote from his first meeting with Hernanes.

“Two other Armenian teammates and I had to share rooms at the training center with local players,” Mkhitaryan said. “And I was paired with him.

“We had taken a few lessons to express ourselves in Portuguese before going to Brazil; we learned a bit and tried to communicate.

“He, being a very intelligent person – because we got to know him as a person even before as a footballer – started learning the Armenian alphabet.

“We spent a lot of time together. He was an outstanding footballer, good with both feet, improving every day, and we followed his example.

“We learned so much.”