Video: Dumfries and Bisseck confess to ‘not being the best player’ before Inter | OneFootball

Denzel Dumfries and Yann Bisseck confess their careers did not get off to the best start, but they give hope to other young players. ‘We’re at Inter now, so we can’t complain.’

The pair were given questions as part of the Inter TV segment Wheel Talks, which saw them look back over their careers and pick favourite moments.

The first was whether they ever felt like underdogs and the responses were surprising.

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 31: Denzel Dumfries of Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Udinese Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on August 31, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“I was not the best football player, to be honest,” said Dumfries.

“I struggled! But I kept believing in myself, and here we are, you know? Hard work, dedication.”

It paid off, because his performances for Inter and the Netherlands saw him finish 25th in the Ballon d’Or rankings for 2025.

BARI, ITALY – AUGUST 16: Yann Aurel Bisseck of Inter during Pre-Season Friendly match between FC Internazionale and Olympiacos FC at Stadio San Nicola on August 16, 2025 in Bari, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Bisseck is younger at age 24, and took inspiration from cinema to pave his way in the football world.

“There’s always somebody that doesn’t believe in you, and you know all these movies where there’s this one guy who doesn’t get up there immediately, and then like you said, hard work, dedication, you have to believe, and also need a little bit of luck,” said the Austria international.

“There’s always one coach who can change your life. It was my Under-17 coach. Shout-out to Markus Daun!

“That’s the story, but now we are here at Inter, so we can’t complain, right?”

Curiously, both Dumfries and Bisseck named Lilian Thuram as one of their idols growing up, as they are now teammates with his son, Marcus.

Dumfries and Bisseck discuss careers before Inter