Inter Milan fans celebrate in Milan, Italy on May 2. Photo: VCG

Inter Milan are the champions of Italy. After an 11-year wait for the Scudetto, Antonio Conte has ensured that the ribbons this year will not be the black and white of nine-time-in-a-row winners Juventus but the blue and black of the Nerazzuri.

The celebrations have been epic despite the pandemic, with fans taking to the streets of Italy's second city and partying in the Piazza Duomo.

Inter striker Romelu Lukaku was one of the Inter players to take to the streets too after Atalanta's failure to win ensured that the title would be heading to San Siro - or at least Inter's half of the iconic stadium that they share with city rivals AC Milan.

Lukaku scored 27 times so far this season for Conte's side, across all competitions.He thinks that it has been his best season so far in a career that has taken him to Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, Everton and Manchester United in the English Premier League since leaving Anderlecht in his native Belgium.

"It can be said that this was the best year of my career. Last was also good, but this year we have done some great things and I hope we can continue like this," he told Sky Italia after Inter became champions.

"I'm really happy, I want to thank everyone because this year has been really good for us.

"I am very happy for all the Inter fans in the world, for the team, for the coach and his staff, for the president, for everyone.

"It was a good year for us, I'm really proud to play for Inter. For me, it's time to celebrate with the people, I went out with a friend of mine because the best thing is to see the fans and I'm glad I did.

"For many of us Inter players it is the first title and right now we just have to celebrate."

The celebrations were not limited to those on the streets, with Steven Zhang - the aforementioned president of the club - expressing his joy via the club's official website.

"It's emotional, and a special time for everyone involved in this project and who has been with us on this journey," Zhang said of Inter's long-awaited scudetto.

"Thanks, first of all, to the fans, to those that work with us and obviously to our coach Antonio Conte and to the players, who have worked so hard to bring this title home.

"Furthermore, I want to thank the employees and directors, the two managing directors, who have supported me this year and the five years previous. All those who have been a part of this project, who have worked with us not only this year but also in the past. I think that they are all part of this Scudetto and that this title belongs to all of them. A massive thank you to all of them.

"A special thank you to my father and to Massimo Moratti, who has guided me throughout the years, supported me from an emotional and mental standpoint and helped me to understand what Inter is."

Zhang is the son of Suning owner Zhang Jindong, the Chinese retail giant having taken over the Italian side in 2016 when they bought a controlling stake.

This was the first time that a Chinese-owned side have won one of Europe's "big five" leagues.

"Last but certainly not least, thanks to the fans, who love sport and this Inter that they follow. I hope that this joy in such a difficult time can bring everybody a bit of positive energy," Zhang said.

"It's a special day. Speaking with the players after the win against Crotone, I told them that I almost couldn't have imagined that this would happen. 

"We're here thanks to some really hard work in recent months and years. There are no words in reality and in my experience that I can use to describe all of this.

"To our fans throughout the world, in Milan and in Italy, this Scudetto is for you. It is dedicated to you and we hope that it brings you joy and hope. We hope that this shows the value of hard work.

"The future of Inter, of the project and of the Inter world is the same as it has been for 100 years and it will always be this way. Our objective is to spread positive energy, hope, inclusivity and innovative ideas to the people that follow us. 

"It's not important if you're an Inter fan, a football aficionado or even if you're not a big sports fan; everything that we do, our message and our project will have these values."

Zhang also celebrated Inter's win on Chinese social media platform Weibo.

"Inter win the Serie A title," he wrote. "We never gave up even at a time when the pandemic was still ongoing! These are the Nerazzurri colors. They bring us hope and light. We can be proud to say, FC Internazionale Milano, we are champions!"

They are the champions and a former manager was in celebratory mood too.

"Inter fully deserved to win the Scudetto," said former Inter boss Roberto Mancini to Italian radio. 

"They have a big gap back to second place [13 points].

"I hope Inter's story this year, with them getting back to winning ways after a long time, can repeat itself with Italy at the Euros," said the current Italy boss.

Even an AC Milan legend could extend congratulations, something which both the Rossoneri and deposed champions Juventus did on social media.

"I'm not happy as a Milanista, but Inter did well," former AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko told Radio24.

"Inter had a good season, most of all demonstrating hunger to win and Conte's passion, which I know and appreciate in him."