Lele Oriali admits he is ‘worried’ about next season at Inter because Suning have not explained their future plans.
Inter brought Oriali back to the club in 2019 to act as their team manager alongside Antonio Conte, after the pair had already worked together with the Italian national team.
Conte and Oriali led Inter to the club’s first Serie A title in 11 years, but there is very little certainty about what happens beyond the end of this season.
“I’m worried because we still don’t have a clear plan,” Oriali told Gazzetta dello Sport for today’s print edition.
“We don’t know the dates and location for pre-season training, nothing has been communicated to us.”
Conte’s future is one of the big question marks heading into next season but Oriali was unable to offer any further reassurance for Inter fans.
“We all have to understand what the owners’ plans are first,” the Nerazzurri’s former midfielder admitted.
“It’s not been an easy year for anyone, especially for us, but we’ve managed to rise to the challenge.
“If only you knew how many sleepless nights Antonio and I had at Appiano Gentile…”
Inter president Steven Zhang asked players to give up two months’ wages to help the club’s financial situation, but Oriali insisted he and Conte had not received the same request.
“When the president spoke to the team, Conte and I weren’t there…” he confirmed.
Oriali was asked to pinpoint the moment he realised the Scudetto was won, giving an answer typical of a man working under Conte.
“I knew it was done when we had the mathematical certainty,” he responded.
“Conte and I are hard taskmasters, we’re always thinking about what happens next and not what’s been done already.
“The players have taken on board this mentality.”
Inter pulled off a media masterstroke last week when they quashed reports of Conte falling out with Lautaro Martinez – following their argument against Roma – by getting the pair together in a makeshift boxing ring.
Asked where the idea came from, Oriali revealed: “Romelu Lukaku and Andrea Ranocchia came up with it.
“It shows you this group is healthy and united: we’ve built something that could last for a long time.
“The argument was sorted at the end of the game though, Lautaro apologised to the coach and his teammates.”
Oriali was also asked about Inter’s controversial Coppa Italia semi-final second leg at Juventus in February, when he was reportedly involved in an argument with Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici.
“When someone offends my guys (Inter’s players) off the field, I intervene,” he added.