Jose Mourinho has no need to apologise to Inter fans after returning to Serie A with Roma, according to former Nerazzurri defender Nicolas Burdisso.
The Special One has signed a three-year deal to take charge of the Giallorossi from the start of next season, more than a decade on from winning the treble in Milan.
Burdisso spent one year working under Mourinho at Inter and believes it could have been much worse had he been appointed by Inter’s other rivals.
“He hasn’t betrayed Inter by going to Roma,” Burdisso told Corriere dello Sport in an interview for Wednesday’s print edition.
“If he’d gone to Juventus or AC Milan, on the other hand…
“Serie A will definitely be more spectacular and appealing with Mourinho back, he’s a guarantee in that sense.
“I think Roma have made a good decision and that Mourinho will begin a cycle with them, although it wouldn’t be fair to set targets which are unrealistic.”
Mourinho will have all eyes on him when he returns to face Inter at San Siro as an opponent next season, but Burdisso expects him to get a warm reception.
“I think that’ll be a special match and a great moment for him,” the former defender argued.
“Mourinho will be going back to a stadium where he won everything and I think the Interisti will applaud him, even as an opponent.
“I had some beautiful moments with Mourinho between the pitch, the dressing room and day-to-day-life, he’s exceptional.”
Burdisso also admitted he was ‘very happy’ to see Inter regain the Serie A title and tipped Antonio Conte’s side to back up their success in future seasons.
“I think Conte has begun a cycle, he’s a winner and he’ll prove it again in the future,” he added.
“Inter’s title victory reminds me of the scudetto we won in the 2006-07 season (under Roberto Mancini with 97 points), when we secured the title with five games left.
“It’s a deserved triumph.”