Legendary former Inter president and owner Massimo Moratti has shared his belief that football in Milan is going through a rebirth.
AC Milan have started this season in stellar fashion and although Inter have not started this campaign as they were expected to, they have grown exponentially in the past year or so, during which they finished second in Serie A and runners up in the Europa League.
“I think there is a rebirth of football in Milan, AC Milan are growing because they have entrusted the team to a competent management,” Moratti explained in an interview with Italian radio station Gr Parlamento during their La Politica nel Pallone show earlier on today.
“At Inter there is a family in charge that gives me hope. They want to stay and invest to obtain important satisfactions. It is a good start for a beautiful future, even if the future is confused by the pandemic.”
Moratti then briefly touched on this season and on Inter manager Antonio Conte: “It’s a strange season, even in football. Antonio Conte has a strong character, he’s very attentive.”
Moratti, who owned Inter for close to 20 years, then spoke on Inter attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen, who has struggled greatly since his arrival at the club in January transfer window: “It can happen that there are players who are certainly talented but for whatever reason, whether that be their character or because of the time, fail to be successful.
“This is what is happening to Eriksen, football is patient but only up to a certain point. I think that if it continues like this, Inter could swap him.”
Moratti then went on to be asked about Inter’s strike force of Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku and he also sang the praises of some other Inter players who he likes.
“Lautaro has the necessary class to grow, Lukaku scores many goals and would have been useful for my Inter too. Nicolò Barella is also very good, as is Stefano Sensi who unfortunately gets hurt often.”
Moratti proceeded to suggest two players who he thinks would be good fits for Inter: “N’Golo Kanté would be a very useful player for the team, I would also have signed Kalidou Koulibaly, who is the best defender in Europe.”
The 75-year-old then reminisced about former Inter manager Roberto Mancini.
“Mancini is good, he was good at Inter too. He is a hard worker, he has talent and he also wants it from his players. I love him. He has many qualities and is expressing them in the best way with the national team, he has many young players and this Italy gives satisfaction.”
In conclusion the chairman of Italian company Saras discussed some of the problems that exist in football these days.
“The big problem of football is not only the lack of receipts, but the fact that cash resources came from ticket sales, which solves liquidity problems for the clubs.
“Any political intervention that could alleviate the burden of management would be welcome. Football remains a distraction and entertainment for the people at the moment, also for this reason I think that politics must lend a hand.
“Players taking wage cuts? I think it is necessary. I too have had to ask players to lower or spread their salaries and they have always responded positively. The important thing is to be fair towards them, respecting the commitments.”
