Inter CEO Beppe Marotta feels that he has adequately responded to Fiorentina director Joe Barone regarding the La Viola director’s public criticisms of the Nerazzurri.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster RAI Radio, the Nerazzurri executive defended Inter’s business practices and also gave his thoughts on some other important matters at the club.
Barone has publicly accused Inter of financial improprieties and getting away with not paying taxes in a way that other Italian clubs would not be able to.
Marotta responded to the criticisms from Barone by stating that “I told him what I had to tell him when we were in the Assembly together.”
“Inter is in favour of transparency,” he added, “we have made our situation well-known. We have always fulfilled our duties, respecting all deadlines. I asked him not to air these unpleasant grievances.”
Marotta has once again unequivocally denied these accusations and stated that the Nerazzurri are run in a completely fair and rule-abiding way.
He also gave his impression on how the season has gone so far for Inter, stating his happiness at the form the team are in.
On the job that has been done by Simone Inzaghi since his arrival from Lazio in the summer, Marotta stated that “I had imagined there would be more difficulties. In reality he immediately settled in here, supported by the directors.”
“He has managed to demonstrate his value and today gives us something extra on the bench,” he added.
“In the summer we weathered a big storm,” he said of the Nerazzurri’s difficult transfer window, “but we found our North Star, ready to guide us very well,” referring to Inzaghi.
“We found solutions to the departures of Conte, Hakimi and Lukaku, as well as the unfortunate absence of Eriksen,” he emphasized.
“Inzaghi is working very well.”
On whether he expects that Antonio Conte regrets leaving in the summer the executive stated, “I don’t think so. We shouldn’t go digging up the past.”
“I think he took us along an important path in our growth, from a tactical and mental point of view,” he went on.
“His work has given us a lot, as has that of Inzaghi,” he continued. “We would like to repeat last year’s triumph, we want to do it for the fans and for the owners.”
Regarding rumours linking former Inter captain Mauro Icardi to Juventus Marotta stated that “Italy is no longer the Eldorado of football, today we are a transitional league for players.”
“It can only be a positive thing if top players want to return here,” he added.
He said of Icardi that “I’m not speaking about him, he is a PSG player. We are happy with the strikers at our disposal.”
Marotta also gave his thoughts on the failed Super League project, stating that “The hypothesis of the Super League raised some alarms from the clubs involved.”
“The current state of football represents a model that is no longer sustainable and needs to be reconsidered,” he added.
“The government too must show more consideration and sensitivity towards football,” the executive reflected, “which represents a very important business model.”
“If you look at our industry, it pours about 1 billion a year into the state coffers,” he reflected. “We’re not asking for hand-outs, but for more attention and collaboration.”
Regarding the contract extension talks with midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, the executive stated that “We still have some matters to attend to.”
“We are happy with the players whose are about to expire and we have started negotiations with them, we hope that they can come to a positive conclusion,” he added.
“He has expressed his desire to stay at Inter,” he went on, “we still have to find an economic agreement but I am optimistic.”
Lastly Marotta was asked about Inter-linked Lazio midfielder Luis Alberto, stating that “I don’t want to talk about that far in the future. We will deal with this when the time is right.”
