Former Inter Milan President Massimo Moratti is a big fan of both Lautaro Martinez and Simone Inzaghi.

Speaking to Radio TV Serie A, via FCInterNews, the former Nerazzurri President also revealed that the club had at one point been close to signing Lionel Messi.

Legendary former Inter President Moratti has been away from Inter for the better part of a decade.

But Moratti still retains a strong connection to the club.

Praise For Lautaro & Inzaghi, Moratti Dreams Of Second Star

Former Nerazzurri President gave his thoughts on current club captain Lautaro Martinez.

“He’s an excellent player,” he said of the 26-year-old striker.

“He has the character of a centre-forward and scores brilliant goals,” he noted.

“And then Thuram has been a big surprise,” the former President continued.

Moratti also gave his thoughts on Inter coach Simone Inzaghi. “He’s a very good coach, he constantly keeps a low profile and the team plays very well,” he said of the 47-year-old.

“I don’t know him personally,” Moratti added.

“But he’s kept improving. And that’s no mean feat.”

And regarding the possibility of a Serie A title win to get the second star on the Inter shirt, Moratti admitted that “Superstition compels me.”

“But let’s hope that it’s close,” he continued. “It would represent a brilliant continuity.”

Moratti Says Inter Were Close To Signing Lionel Messi

The former Inter President also addressed the story that Inter had been close to signing legendary former Barcelona and current Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi.

“It’s true,” he said of the story.

“I had seen him with the Argentina Under-19 team,” he continued.

Moratti recalled that “This young man won the match all by himself.”

“He had impressed me with his character and class.”

The former President looked back that “There were journalists who asked me what I thought about him, if I wanted to sign Ronaldinho, and I said that I was a fan of Messi.”

“They were aware of our interest and got in touch with us,” he said.

“But by that point, Barcelona had been taking care of him and nurturing him for years,” he said of the iconic forward.

“I was sorry to miss out on him. But he sent me his shirt every year.”

“You could even see when he was a kid that there was something different about him,” Moratti said of Messi.