For the millions of Inter fans across the globe, he will always be ‘Il Capitano’.

Javier Zanetti has long rubber-stamped his status as an all-time Inter great not only on the strength of his on-pitch success but, above all, for his loyalty in the 19 years he spent with the Serie A club.

At the veteran age of 40, Zanetti has called time on his playing career but the Argentine is set to take up an important role within the club’s administration.

Indeed, it is hard to imagine Zanetti and Inter severing their links after all these years.

And the good news for the Nerazzurri followers in Malta is that Zanetti is reinforcing his already strong connections with our country.

Impressed by the warm, at times euphoric, reception from the fans during a short visit last October as guest of Inter Club Malta, Zanetti will be back this week.

Life after football for Zanetti begins in Malta, precisely at the Luxol Stadium where the Inter stalwart will conduct a mini training camp for children in aid of his PUPI Foundation between Friday and Sunday.

The Zanetti Malta Campus, the brainchild of lifelong Inter fan Paul Fenech who has established close ties with Zanetti, is already fully booked with the organisers reporting that the participation quota was reached within days of the launching.

Zanetti declared himself pleased with the response for his first Malta campus.

“I’m very satisfied,” Zanetti told The Sunday Times of Malta.

“I hope that the things we are doing for my foundation will be positive.”

While the prospect of sharing a training pitch with a football icon was what spurred the 160 kids to snap up the applications, Zanetti wants the children to have fun.

“Primarily, we want to enjoy ourselves as that is what gives us most pleasure, especially for the children who are waiting for this great opportunity,” the Inter stalwart said.

Zanetti is receptive to the idea of establishing his Malta campus as an annual appointment as he pursues new opportunities and initiatives to raise funds for PUPI Foundation, a non-profit Argentine organisation that helps poor and disadvantaged children.

“I think it can become an annual event,” Zanetti remarked.

“I believe that we can do many things. With my foundation, I’m always trying to move forward by undertaking more activities for my children in Argentina.

“This can also be done with the collaboration of the Maltese people who are very generous and supportive.”

News that the Malta Tourism Authority has signed up Zanetti to promote the country’s “dynamic, active and sporting aspects” for the next three years has been well received by the fans who hold the Argentine talisman in the highest of esteem.

“The rapport with Malta is getting stronger,” he observed.

“As, I have already said, the last time we visited Malta, the people treated us very well, making my family and I feel at home, and that is very important for me.”

In his 19 years with Inter, Zanetti has had highs and lows.

After the golden period when Inter won the Serie A five times in a row besides becoming the first Italian club in 2010 to complete a treble of scudetto, Italian Cup and Champions League under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, success has proved hard to come by in recent years as investment in the squad was curtailed by financial constraints.

Off the field, Indonesian billionaire Erik Thohir bought a majority stake in the club from long-serving president Massimo Moratti and on the pitch, Inter hit a rocky patch midway through the season but their form picked up in the final two months.

After seeing Inter finish fifth in the Serie A to qualify for the Europa League in his farewell season, Zanetti is hopeful that the team will return to the summit of Italian football in the coming years.

“I hope we maintain the recent progress,” Zanetti, who was given a rousing farewell by his team-mates and club fans in the 4-1 win over Lazio earlier this month, said.

“Inter are a very important club and we should always aim high.”

While Zanetti will be mostly remembered for his long and successful spell with Inter, ‘Pupi’ also enjoyed a distinguished international career with Argentina.

Despite making his final appearance for the country in 2011, three years before his retirement from the game, Zanetti is still by some distance the country’s most representative player with 145 caps.

The last time we visited Malta, the people treated us very well, making my family and I feel at home, and that is very important for me

Zanetti harbours high hopes that Argentina will do well at the World Cup this year in neighbouring Brazil.

“We all wish that Argentina will have a great tournament,” Zanetti remarked.

“All the nations will prepare the best they can because this is a very important appointment.

“We hope that Argentina do well.”

Zanetti expects Argentina and the ‘usual suspects’ to play a prominent role in Brazil.

“Argentina for sure,” he replied when asked to name his favourites for World Cup glory.

“Brazil, Germany and Spain (have the potential to win the tournament). Even Italy. It will be an interesting battle between all these great footballing nations.”

Argentina are widely expected to advance to the last 16 from a group containing Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Zanetti will participate in two social events for fans and football enthusiasts during his stay in Malta.

A gala dinner in Zanetti’s honour is being held on Friday evening at the Radisson Golden Sands Resort.

On Thursday, the organisers are hosting a VIP party at The Rooftop (Gianpula).

Proceeds from these events will go to-wards the PUPI Foundation.

More information may be obtained by phoning Paul Fenech, the co-ordinator of Zanetti’s visit, on 9949-4762.