Former Inter scout Massimiliano Mirabelli has revealed that he tried to convince the club to hire Paulo Fonseca as coach, before the Portuguese eventually took the Roma job.
Mirabelli led the recruitment team at the Nerazzurri from 2014 to 2016 before taking up a directorial role at AC Milan, whilst also serving a period as a scout with Inter from 2011 to 2013.
Speaking on Italian television station Tele Lazio Nord earlier today, Mirabelli claimed that he was impressed with Fonseca’s work at Roma and had sought to bring him to Inter and had held discussions.
“I like Fonseca a lot. When I was Inter, in addition to studying great players I also loved studying the coaches, and when he was at Braga I used to go there because his team played great football, leaving an important mark,” Mirabelli declared.
“We know the difficulties Roma are going through but he is doing a great job and I hope the club keep hold of him. I proposed him at Inter and we came close, with discussions with his entourage.”
Mirabelli reflected on his work at Inter, before tipping his former club for the Scudetto this season.
“I won all the scouting championships with Inter and [Marco] Fassone appreciated my work and took me to Milan. I liked to go by plane or car and track players, I didn’t enjoy being an armchair director. I love being out there and seeing the players on the pitch.
“I believe that Inter, with their squad and an important coach [Antonio Conte], are on their way to winning the Scudetto. I thought that Atalanta could compete with them, but they got distracted in the Champions League, otherwise they would be an important team.
“Today I am a bit late, but I believe that Inter will win the Scudetto with ease, comfortably. The real fight will be for those targeting the Champions League, and the pain of those who will miss out.”
Mirabelli went on to reveal his best signings through his career, whilst also admitting his biggest regret, namely Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
“[Franck] Kessie and [Hakan] Calhanoglu are my best and I think you can see that even now. The biggest regret, however, for both Milan and Inter is Aubameyang. I tried to sign him since he was practically a nobody, since I was at Inter and Milan sent him to Saint Etienne.
“It would have cost nothing but I couldn’t convince the team. When I went to Milan, he had already moved to Borussia Dortmund.”
Aubameyang departed Dortmund to join Premier League club Arsenal in January 2018 and has gone on to score 83 goals in 135 appearances for the Gunners.