Piero Ausilio has stressed Inter’s commitment toward current manager Luciano Spalletti amid paper talk that Triplete winning manager Jose Mourinho could make a return.

“He’s not a shadow over Spalletti and it doesn’t surprise me that he’s being talked about at a time when everyone needs to say something. We work more rationally than that. We take little from emotion. Our project has been ongoing for a year and a half with Spalletti, and it’ll go on with him for many years,” he said in an in-depth interview with respected journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

Ausilio proceeded to discuss Inter owners Suning’s ambitions for the club.

“Suning is ambitious, it wants an Inter who can win again. They’re not satisfied with being second, third or fourth. What we can say to our fans is that we’re working hard to get Inter back winning as soon as possible.”

He then spoke on the possibility of Inter going back in for Luka Modric having failed to sign him during the summer transfer window.

“I didn’t believe it could happen, but at the same time I don’t see why we can’t dream. I only said: ‘We are here, if Real Madrid think it can be achieved then we can talk about it.’ However, given our possibilities, we didn’t feel like starting negotiations.

“Will we revisit it? We’re talking about such an important and quality player, but you can never say never in football.”

Ausilio then went on to discuss Inter giving up Leonardo Bonucci many years ago and revealed his hopes that the sacrifice of Nicolo Zaniolo will yield similar results.

“Bonucci was sacrificed in a deal with Genoa for Milito and Thiago Motta. If this is the sacrifice to get trophies that arrived as a result of these two players then it’s worth it. I hope that in a few years we talk about Zaniolo in the same manner because that would mean Nainggolan brought us some trophies.”

Ausilio also discussed what his biggest regret has been during his time as Inter’s sporting director.

“Without a doubt, Coutinho. I remember that moment very well. After his sale we went on to get Icardi and Kovacic, so it didn’t go that badly. We would have kept Coutinho for twenty years, but in that moment he wasn’t playing and he wanted to leave to find more space.”

He also spoke on Inter’s pursuit of Paulo Dybala while the Argentine was with Palermo.

“Dybala? If we believed in it more, he would have been ours. That being said our offer was lower compared to Juventus, and they also played in the Champions League. Certainly a duo Icardi-Dybala would have been intriguing for everyone.”