Current PSG Sporting Director and former Inter coach Leonardo has opened up about the circumstances that led to him joining the Nerazzurri.

Speaking at the Trento Festival of Sport, as reported by FCInter1908, the Brazilian explained that Inter President Massimo Moratti personally asked him to join, and also stated that he didn’t expect the move to be as controversial as it was.

Leonardo’s move to take the place of Rafa Benitez as Inter head coach was unexpected, not least given the Brazilian’s long association with city rivals AC Milan.

The Brazilian had coached the Rossoneri the previous season, and the choice to take over at Inter so soon was seen as an audacious one.

However, the former coach did not see it this way, and had simply felt that the offer from Moratti would be very difficult to turn down irrespective of his links to the Rossoneri.

He explained that “At Inter Moratti wanted me, a very humble person full of good will. When he called me I had not yet decided whether to continue as a coach or to return as a manager but saying no would have been like dying.”

“It was difficult to leave Milan but I didn’t think there would be so much controversy,” he went on. “But when there is a dispute it means that there was a feeling before. Moratti also encouraged me to follow my heart in the choice between PSG and Inter.”