Inter Women’s training camp in Malta proved to be a resounding success, according to Haley Bugeja, with the Maltese international delighted to return home and play in front of local supporters.
Bugeja marked the occasion with a hat-trick in Inter’s emphatic friendly victory over Hibernians, a match that formed part of the Serie A Femminile side’s preparations ahead of the resumption of domestic action.
Inter will now return to Italy, where they are set to face Serie B side Lumezzane in another winter friendly before turning their attention to a major league fixture against reigning champions Juventus.
As expected, Bugeja received a warm welcome from the Maltese crowd and responded with a commanding performance, wearing the captain’s armband and leading by example.
“It is good to be back in Malta and to play in my own country with my club,” Bugeja said.
“I have wanted this for a long time, so I want to thank everyone involved. Now I am looking forward to continuing the season and building on this good form.”
While the scoreline highlighted the gulf between Inter and Hibernians –and more broadly between the local club game and Italian football – Bugeja stressed that the experience could still be highly beneficial, particularly for young players aspiring to move abroad.
“I think Hibernians have a lot of young players who can learn a lot from this,” she said.
“The scoreline was not flattering, but they knew what to expect. At the same time, it was a good learning experience for them to understand what it takes to be an elite, professional footballer.”
Inter head coach Gianpiero Piovani also spoke positively about the Maltese trip welcome, describing the camp as ideal preparation ahead of their return to Italy.
“It was a perfect training camp,” Piovani said.
“In Milan, the weather is cold, while here we were able to work in excellent conditions. Everything was calm and well organised. Credit goes to the players, but also to the Maltese people who welcomed us so warmly.”
Piovani, one of the most respected figures in Italian women’s football, is the coach who handed Bugeja her Serie A Femminile debut back in 2020 with Sassuolo – a match in which she scored twice, setting her career on a remarkable trajectory.
At Sassuolo, Bugeja flourished rapidly, becoming a key figure before earning a move to Orlando Pride in the United States. She later returned to Italy and, now reunited with Piovani at Inter, appears to have rediscovered her scoring touch under the same coach who believed in her early potential.
With 11 goals already in the 2025-26 season, Bugeja has once again emerged as a standout figure in Serie A Femminile, with Inter banking on her contributions as they push for European qualification and potential silverware.
“I have known Haley since her very beginning, since I gave her that debut in Serie A,” Piovani said.
“Last season she improved a lot – especially her first touch and her heading. She may not score many headers yet, but the improvement is clear. She was born in 2004, so there is still a lot of room for growth.”
Piovani also praised the reception Bugeja received in Malta and highlighted her humility as a key factor in her continued development.
“From that debut against Napoli, it was clear she was a great player,” he added.
“I did not know how far she would go, but she has always remained very humble, and that helps her keep improving. Hopefully, she continues to help us at Inter achieve our objectives.”
