Massimo Moratti has hailed Christian Eriksen for his role in Inter’s Serie A triumph and categorically ruled out a return to the club.

Inter were confirmed as champions yesterday for the first time since 2010, after Atalanta were held to a 1-1 draw at Sassuolo.

Antonio Conte’s side now have a 13-point lead at the top with four games left, ending Inter’s 10-year wait for a major trophy after their Coppa Italia triumph in 2011.

“Conte is the symbol of Inter’s season,” Moratti told La Repubblica in an interview for today’s print edition.

“He has fulfilled more than one role and he’s done it in his own way, fully aware of the difficulties he had around him.

“He recovered those who were disheartened and has restored a sense of harmony in the club and around it.

“It would have been easier to abandon ship in the middle of the sea and wait to see where it turned up, but this team has become solid.

“It would be reductive to just talk about Conte as a motivator though; he’s a great coach.

“You only need to think about how he revitalised Eriksen and turned him into a decisive player for the title run-in.”

Moratti sold Inter to Erick Thohir in 2013 but he was linked with an incredible return to the club earlier this year.

However, he has denied those rumours on several occasions and again reiterated here: “No, intrusiveness is a nasty thing.

“I’ve watched all of Inter’s matches this season like a child, feeling very relaxed, and it’s been very nice like this.”

Moratti also had words of encouragement for Inter’s president Steven Zhang, who has become the youngest president to win the scudetto with the Nerazzurri aged just 29.

“He will keep getting better,” Moratti added on Zhang, who has been Inter’s president since late 2018.

“I hope he brings us good news and remains in charge, and I hope we can soon return to filling the stadiums safely.”