Former Inter manager Roberto Mancini spoke in length on a number of Inter related topics in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
“We rebuilt the team, now the team has two years of experience plus many millions of investment. We finished the first half of the season in the lead despite having obvious shortcomings. At that point signings were needed in January to keep up, but it was only about selling. A club like Inter can’t just think about getting into the Champions League, you have to aim to win. The next summer’s signings? Gabigol was young, it would have been better to loan him out right away. Joao Mario was identical to Brozovic. I needed something different. A quick striker, capable of attacking opposition defences when they close up was needed but at that point money was being spent and it wasn’t clear who was deciding. There was confusion.”
Mancini then spoke on former Inter midfielder Mateo Kovacic and his relationship with the Croatian.
“There were some harsh confrontations between us. I told him: ‘reject everything and explode here’ but Real Madrid came in and there was a need for the money.”
Mancini proceeded to discuss the Inter of this season and what they need.
“What does Spalletti need? I have not seen Inter much. Maybe a quick striker like Dries Mertens, someone who scores like Mauro Icardi.
I see them finishing third. For me, they are stronger than Roma and Lazio but they will have to invest this summer though.”
He concluded the interview speaking on another former Inter player Mario Balotelli, who he managed both at Inter and Manchester City.
“I have not followed him much lately, but I see that he is scoring a lot of goals. That’s what I want, I hope he can still get a lot of satisfaction. He is only 27, he has to go back to the national team. Someone like him can decide certain matches on his own.”