Massimo Moratti speaks exclusively to Tuttossport on several different subjects related to the world of Inter including the dreaded will to sell the club. “Will I sell Inter? I think that everything was born with the Chinese investors who expressed the interest to manage the club. Then there were other connections in Europe and the East,” said Moratti. But is it true that there was contact with Lazard bank to test waters? “Yes, I will admit. I know the Lazard company very well. It is a bank that has a lot of experience in dealing with mergers and acquisitions. The line, however, is the Chinese. I am looking for a partner to build a new stadium. Percentage? It does not matter because I am staying with 51% minimum. It is important that the stadium is something that belongs to the club and there are also potential American buyers. Other than partnership, we will build a new stadium. I want a modern home of Inter, but not too modern. It has to function well and represents the style of the city. I have a number of projects on the table and one of which intrigues me very much. Obviously we need the laws to expedite the paperwork.”
THE DESIRE TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING - “Many times I have been tempted to sell the club. I think that this thought has happened to all except Andrea Agnelli because he has just became Juventus president. I will sell the club if the time is right because after a while, you need a change of faces at this club and increase the need for new ideas. Selling a club comes to mind for many reasons but then... I think of the fans and the confidence that they still have in me. To them I would say that I will not let them down.”
REBUILDING INTER - “Evidently we have chosen a lower profile but it had already happened with the Grande Inter. We must lay the foundation for the future and must have patience. The season of rebuilding is passing by. At first there were many obstacles and then the situation got better and now we are well on our way. Revolution in June? Patience is necessary to be able to resist temptation. The constraints come from the opponents. When they buy a champion and what do you do? You would think that we would open ourselves up to spend but that argument is no longer sustainable."
RONALDO AND CALCIOPOLI - “Ronaldo was the most intelligent acquisition of my management, made by me personally. But now, it would be unthinkable. Once I felt obliged to try to win but there was Calciopoli. Fantastic team, fantastic bench but nothing: we just could not win. Now it seems to me that Calciopoli is over, more or less. At least we hope. After seven years, I believe that I am no longer waking up to a nasty disease because it has been eradicated. Now I think football is cleaner. Before there was an criminal organization and now there is the betting scandal but that is another story. I want to clarify that with Andrea Agnelli, the relationship is good and I love him. He is young, a gentleman and very good at what he does. Among us there is affection and even alliance in Lega where we share the same ideas and plans. Galliani? He has his own winning tactic. He likes to have the levers of power but he is a very well prepared person.”
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, STRAMA AND MOURINHO - “The Champions League is worth 30 million and also the foundation on which our work is based on. It is a matter of survival. With Stramaccioni, we cannot make the same arguments made with more mature colleagues. He has a lot of strengths and so that is why I am very careful not to throw those strengths way. Mourinho? With Jose there is a lot of affection. Maybe at Real they do not appreciate when he said: 'We Interisti...' When he entered into the dressing room, it was like one thousand lamps got lit up. Then Benitez, completely different and... let’s forget it..."
THE ARGENTINIANS, CASSANO, ICARDI AND... - “Zanetti is not going to stop, he will continue. Have you seen him running? Milito and Cambiasso are two that want to do well at Inter and available are two new and reduced contracts. We will talk but there will not be problems of any kind. Samuel? No, he is not going to retire. Yes he has had a lot of battles on his back but he is still a rock in the defense. And Cassano still has a year of contract with us. Then there is Icardi: he would be our reinforcement if we are able to close it with Sampdoria. But he is not the vice-Milito, who is injured in a very weird and unfortunate way. Milito is still fired up and charged for next season. However, I see Icardi doing very well for us. Livaja? We are regretful to have sold him but Schelotto got that goal in the derby. Let’s go back to Livaja. He was not going to stay and had to leave to play but then Milito immediately got injured right after. Carew is a good person but it would take him a month to get in shape.”
TREBLE AND REBUILDING - “After the treble, there was no need to fold everything, no reason to revolutionize the team. There must be the correct opportunities on the transfer market. Eto’o and Balotelli then left. And also the coach. The dilemma was: continue with the champions that perhaps were satisfied (of winning many trophies) or focus on the young players those that would need three years to understand how Inter work and how to win. We are in rebuilding mode and in football it takes patience."
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