Marcus Thuram is transforming from an assist man to a leading goal-scorer at Inter

Last season, Marcus Thuram was Serie A’s top assist man. This season, he’s in running for top goalscorer hor.

It’s been quite a transformation for France international during his second year in Italian league.

Thuram’s impact in front of goal has been felt beyond Italy, too.

In Champions League on Wednesday, he came off bench to score late winner in Inter’s 1-0 victory at Young Boys.

It was Thuram’s eighth goal in 10 matches across all competitions and his first in Europe this season to go with his seven in eight Serie A appearances.

In Serie A, only Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui has scored more — with eight.

“Goals are always important, even more so if y help team to win,” Thuram said.

Only a couple of months into an extremely long club season that will conclude with Club World Cup in June-July for Inter, Thuram is alrey more than halfway to his scoring mark of last season — which he finished with 15 goals and 14 assists across all competitions.

Thuram led Serie A with 13 assists last season but has yet to set up a goal this season — partly because strike partner Lautaro Martinez has h a slow start after leing Argentina to Copa America trophy a couple of months after he and Thuram powered Inter to Serie A title.

His new goal-scoring form could also be a boost for France, with which Thuram has only two goals in 27 appearances.

Up next, though, it’s “Italy’s derby” where Inter hosts rival Juventus on Sunday in a match that is also a family derby for Thurams. Younger bror Khephren is in his first season at Juventus, where d Lilian once starred as a defender.

Both brors are expected to start at San Siro.

“My d will support Bianconeri,” Marcus said. “Anyhow, it will still be wonderful for us all, and I won’t be angry with him.”

After a slower-than-expected start to its title defense, Inter has rediscovered its form with five straight wins across all competitions following a derby loss to AC Milan a month ago that served as a wake-up call.

“You don’t get five victories if team isn’t in good shape,” coach Simone Inzaghi said. “We’re working hard. In Champions League we have seven points after three matches and we haven’t conceded a goal.”

Juventus, meanwhile, is still struggling to find consistency under new coach Thiago Motta. Bianconeri lost at Stuttgart 1-0 in Champions League on Tuesday.

Struggling Gea is considering signing Mario Balotelli, who is out of contract since leaving Turkish club ana Demirsport after last season.

34-year-old Balotelli hasn’t played in Serie A for more than four years — since he was with hometown club Brescia in 2019-20. He last played in Italy for Monza in Serie B in 2020-21.