The Nerazzurri executive spoke a little bit about everything from the past, the present, and future personal and club perspectives.
At an event called ‘Who framed Marotta?’ faced by some children/teenagers with microphones in hand, the Nerazzurri CEO didn’t shy away from the many questions directed at him: from the past to personal and club futures, not forgetting his achievements, the director spoke about everything.
Lautaro has turned down offers from big teams. Do you think he could become an Inter legend?
“Lautaro is, first and foremost, an excellent player but also an excellent father. He is a player with important values: he loves Inter as much as Inter loves him. He wants to stay, and we are happy to keep him. Today, he is already our symbol because he is the team captain. If you are given the armband, it’s because there’s a little difference compared to others.”
Are there other paths you would have liked to follow in the football world?
“I had two paths I could follow: either become an executive or a journalist. In the first six months, I tried both, and in the end, I chose to become an executive, also because the opportunity presented itself. When you gain experience, you can better handle situations.”
What happened with Skriniar last season, why did he leave?
“There were differences, difficulties between him and Inter. This led to the break-down in our friendship and the relationship that existed between us. Our paths diverged, he went to Paris, and we moved forward without him. And I would say it went well.”
Did you leave Juventus because of Cristiano Ronaldo? Did he make you angry there?
“He was an excellent player, he still is, and above all, a great champion. A champion is someone who can inspire his teammates. He was a the leader of the team, the most famous one, and he dragged others into the game. So, it was challenging, but he didn’t make me angry and I didn’t leave because of him.” (The truth might still be different. He was against his signing and left after the brought him there)
Who was the least-rated player you signed who turned out to be a great champion?
“There are many examples. The most recent one is a great professional who played for the national team, and his name is Matteo Darmian. He is a guy that Ausilio and I signed for very little money, and today he is a player who is worth much more than what we paid for him. I admire him a lot for his seriousness and a set of values. I hope you take him as an example. Matteo is a guy who has slowly shown his worth without the newspapers and TVs giving him much space.”
The most difficult signing, on the other hand?
“There is a player today at Juve named Pogba. He was a little older than you (refering to the young man who asked the question) when we signed him, and it was a very complicated negotiation. Coming from Manchester United, he hadn’t signed a renewal, so there were many teams that wanted him. It was difficult to negotiate his purchase; it was very complex, but we did it.”
Will Zhang remain at the helm of Inter?
“Zhang is young, talented, ambitious; he wants to be the president of Inter. So, we hope he stays, and we all cheer for him.”
What will you do with your life after Inter?
“In life, there is the possibility of retiring even at a younger age, and it’s right that everyone follows their passions. When I say that after football, I’d like to go into politics, it’s because I like dealing with young people’s problems, especially in the field of sports. In Italy, we still have problems; so maybe my future lies in politics”
