Former Inter player Amantino Mancini has reflected on his spell with Inter as part of an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia as part of their ‘Casa Sky Sport’ interview series aired yesterday.
The Brazilian joined Inter in the Summer of 2008 from fellow Serie A side Roma and spent two years on Inter’s books, the final six months of which he spent out on loan at Inter’s city rivals AC Milan.
He began the interview by speaking on why he was never signed permanently by the Rossoneri club at the end of his loan spell.
“Why was I not bought by AC Milan? After I went on loan to them because I wasn’t playing at Inter, I remember I played three games and got injured. I spent two and a half months out injured.”
He then went on to speak about his time on Inter’s books.
“At Inter the first year went well with Mourinho. At the beginning I was playing in his 4-3-3, then he changed system and took me out the team.
“However, it was a beautiful experience in a large and important club. I thank President Moratti who wanted me very much.
“Things change in football and it is not always the manager’s fault. Maybe at the time I wasn’t at my best and therefore it was right to take me out the team. All in all, it was a unique experience. Both Inter and AC Milan are great clubs.”
Next, the now retired 39-year-old spoke on what it was like to work under Jose Mourinho at Inter.
“He understood that in that period I was not doing well and he settled on playing 4-4-2. As I said before, maybe in that period I was not doing well and therefore it was right not to play me.
“He is a manager who manages to bring out the best in the players. I remember in a press conference after a 3-0 defeat he had created a little controversy and the next day nobody talked about the game anymore, but about his behaviour.
“He was very good at taking responsibility from the players and was very well prepared in communication. Was it him who blocked my transfer to Genoa? No, actually it was me who didn’t want to go.”
Mancini, who made seven appearances for the Brazilian national team during his playing career, made a total of 36 appearances for Inter in which he scored one goal and tallied four assists.
