MILAN – Here are some of the nicknames for the players ahead of the Milan derby. Not all players have them but some do. Abbiati becomes Abbia, Ambrosini and Zambrotta turn into Ambro and Zambro; these are some of the more obvious ones. Then there are the commentators who come up with their own names to color their comment. Kevin Prince Boateng is known as ‘The Big Bang’, Thiago Silva is ‘The King’, Walter Samuel ‘The Wall’ and Diego Milito is known as ‘The Prince’.

The numerous Argentineans in the Inter side make some of the nicknames almost obligatory. Cambiasso becomes ‘The Cuchu’ and Javier Zanetti is ‘The Pupi’.

Here are some of the more interesting nicknames from the Rossoneri:

RINO GATTUSO: Ringhio.
Rino doesn’t always appreciate being compared to a hoverfly, but by now, it’s a strange part of the player’s story.

MARK VAN BOMMEL: The General
Adriano Galliani as well as the players own agent have always called him but this name.

CLARENCE SEEDORF: The Professor
In the past it was Costacurta who had this one, but President Berlusconi has often called the Duthman by this name.

KEVIN PRINCE BOATENG: The Boa.
This one speaks for itself. An animal that literally squeezes the life out of it’s prey. A fitting description to the energy the players shows on the pitch