Inter director Beppe Marotta refuses to get drawn into ‘wily old fox’ Jose Mourinho’s traps and assures the Scudetto-winning squad will ’90 per cent’ remain intact, but questions remain over Christian Eriksen.
Marotta was at the ceremony for the drawing up of the 2021-22 Serie A fixture list in Milan this evening and spoke to DAZN.
He was asked about new Roma coach Mourinho’s comments that “it’s easy to win when you don’t pay the wages” of star players.
“We’ve known Mourinho for a long time, he’s a wily old fox accustomed to provoking and trying to get a reaction from his opponents,” replied Marotta.
“I won’t get drawn into it and it’s up to all of us not to get drawn into the traps that are laid out for us.”
The transfer market is inevitably the central focus now after Achraf Hakimi was sold to PSG.
“We start from a squad that won the Scudetto and will 90 per cent be confirmed for this season, so that is a very important foundation to build on.
“We’ll now work to complete the squad in relation to Hakimi’s departure by being creative, as it’s difficult for any club right now to get involved in economically expansive deals.”
Hector Bellerin of Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven talent Denzel Dumfries were proposed as potential Inter signings.
“There are many names, it’s too early to try predicting what will happen now.”
When it comes to the Inter side that won the Serie A title, there are huge question marks over whether Christian Eriksen will be allowed to play in Italy after his cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark and operation to implant a mini-defibrillator.
“We are above all happy to hear he is rediscovering his full health,” noted Marotta.
“As for his return to the field, the situation must be analysed. We hope he can fully rediscover his health and fitness.”
Inter already snapped up a midfielder to replace him, as Hakan Calhanoglu was a free agent after leaving rivals Milan.
“It was not an insult towards Milan, he was just a player who was a free agent. Maybe next time it’ll be Milan who take a player when his contract with Inter expires.”