Derby d’Italia Becomes The Thuram Show with Marcus and Khephren Set to do Battle

The Derby d’Italia between Inter Milan and Juventus is one of Italy’s marquee fixtures. The country’s two most successful clubs, with a combined 56 Scudetti, five European Cups and 24 Coppa Italias, are also the two most-supported clubs in the nation.

Moreover, in the last two decades it’s been a fixture rife with tension, on and off the pitch.  Yet, for the first time the game will have a family feel to it. 

The Thuram brothers, Marcus and little brother Khephren, will square off against one another in the San Siro, adding even more spice to the blockbuster showdown.

Father Lillian, who served both Parma and Juve with distinction in a decade-long stint in Serie A, will no doubt be watching on proudly, his sons doing battle in one of Europe’s grandest football cathedrals in front of 75,000 fans, millions watching from their couches at home.

However, it won’t be the first time the Thuram pair have faced off.

The first meeting occurred in the opening weeks of 2019. It was a frosty night in Guingamp during a French League Cup semi final when Marcus and Khephren shared a pitch in an official game. Marcus, then 21-years-old, started the game for Guingamp as they hosted Monaco. 

The older Thuram sibling scored during the game, helping Guingamp turnaround a two-goal deficit against Leonardo Jardim’s side. Khepren, still a teenager, was brought on with 10 minutes of normal time remaining for the principality outfit. 

The game went into extra-time and later penalties. Despite Marcus missing his penalty, Guingamp won 5-4 to advance to the final where they suffered defeat against Strasbourg. To cap off a horrible season, his side finished bottom of Ligue 1 in 2018-19.

Marcus signed for Borussia Monchengladbach that summer, and with Khephren remaining in Ligue 1, the pair have never met as adversaries since.

Nearly six years later, the two will exchange blows in a much bigger game in front of a much bigger audience.

After four years in the Bundesliga, Marcus signed for Inter on a free transfer in 2023. Khephren joined him in Serie A a year later, when the midfielder signed for Juventus. Both were born in Italy, with Marcus in Parma and Khephren in Reggio Emilia, and so their eventual returns to the peninsula hasn’t been unexpected. 

Both are very different players: Marcus a striker and Khephren a box-to-box midfielder. Neither are like their father, who was regarded as one of the best right-backs in the world during the late 1990s and early ‘00s. 

Marcus played a big part in Inter’s 20th Scudetto in 2023-24, chipping in with 13 league goals and forming a great understanding with Lautaro Martinez. 

Yet old habits die hard when, with Marcus celebrating the Scudetto on the San Siro turf, a chorus of ‘he who doesn’t jump is a Juventino’ broke out. Of course, Thuram played to the gallery and jumped, however he was in the vicinity of Thuram Snr, who promptly gave him a playful slap across the back of the head.

Lillian might’ve stopped playing for Juve 18 years ago, but his heart still beats Bianconero. “My father will support Juventus, because my little brother’s there and because he played for them, he’s a Juventino,” said Marcus when asked about who Lillian will support ahead of the derby.

After a productive debut campaign in Serie A, Marcus has upped his game this season. Eight goals from 10 in all competitions equals his best start to a season since his last in the Bundesliga, and the 27-year-old has carried the goalscoring burden for Inter in light of Martinez’s dip in form. 

Khephren, meanwhile, has had an understated — yet decent — start to life in Turin. He impressed in the 3-0 opening day win over Como, but suffered an injury that kept him out for several games before being eased back into the starting XI by Thiago Motta. 

With Motta short on options in midfield amid a spate of injuries, the younger Thuram is almost guaranteed to start, meaning both will be on the pitch from the opening minute. However, tussles between the pair will be limited given their respective positions.

Inter against Juventus is a clash never short on needle, with drama, controversy and scandal a mile long. Yet with a Thuram in each corner and papa Lillian sitting in the stands observing all below him, the Derby d’Italia will turn into the Thuram show. At least for one game.