Ex-Roma Sporting Director Gianluca Petrachi: “Inter’s Piero Ausilio OK With Politano-Spinazzola Swap, Beppe Marotta Stopped It”

Former Roma sporting director Gianluca Petrachi has revealed that Leonardo Spinazzola was not happy that his proposed transfer to Inter back in the January transfer window collapsed.

Inter and Roma had agreed a swap deal involving Spinazzola and Matteo Politano. The players both underwent medicals and Roma even shared images of Politano in a Roma jersey but the move collapsed when Inter wanted a further opportunity to examine Spinazzola’s condition and tried to change the terms of the agreement.

“He was not very happy. He wanted to play on the left, but Kolarov was untouchable. In order to get him to play, the coach used him on the right, but the boy didn’t like it,” Petrachi explained in an interview with Italian daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport, which appeared in today’s print edition.

“In January Zaniolo got injured and we needed a winger. Politano had to arrive. Ausilio gave us the ok and Marotta stopped it. Today Spinazzola is a starter both for Roma and the national team.”

Petrachi also spoke on how things went between the two clubs when it came to Edin Dzeko, who Inter strongly tried to sign in the Summer of 2019.

“I had already questioned Conte about Dzeko, who he wanted to bring to Inter. ‘Don’t break my balls with Dzeko, I won’t give him to you. There’s no point in banging your head against the wall,’ I told him.”

Petrachi, who recently left his post as Roma sporting director, then spoke on the rumours that Conte was close to becoming Roma manager prior to him taking charge at Inter.

“I have read a lot of chatter on the subject. At Roma they were really convinced they could get Conte. He was coming from a difficult year and the legal squabbles with Chelsea. He was eager for new challenges.

“It was not a negotiation that I followed. I wasn’t at Roma then. I can imagine that Antonio didn’t feel reassured enough.

“Perhaps, if he had spoken directly with Pallotta, things would have been different. Antonio is different from me, I am a sentimental, he is more rational. I don’t think he has felt there would be a strong ownership behind him.”