Inter CEO Beppe Marotta suggested that the Romelu Lukaku ‘chapter is closed’, refused to talk about Lazar Samardzic and expressed confidence on the work renewing various stars’ contracts.
The Nerazzurri unexpectedly reached the Champions League final last season and have carried that momentum into the new campaign, which sees them lead the Serie A table after 10 games, winning eight times and drawing once.
Things have been equally positive in their European campaign, which sees them tied at the top of Group D of the Champions League after three games, level on seven points with Real Sociedad.
Speaking at the Sport Movies & TV event at the Lombardy region palace via TMW today, Marotta was first asked about Inter’s new stadium project.
“It’s a topic that, as you know, is taken care of by Alessandro Antonello, I won’t go into it. All I am saying is that the stadium is a need for any modern football club, and we are also following this path.”
He was asked if he’d talked about Andrea Colpani with his Monza counterpart Adriano Galliani, who was also present at the event.
“With Monza we have a very good relationship, and they have excellent elements within their squad, both for clubs and for our national team.
“We have a good relationship, if there are concrete things we’ll develop them later.”
The Inter CEO refused to talk about Udinese starlet Samardzic, who was a step away from arriving in the summer.
“No… it has already been done. We are focused on the present and not the future. This represents something of the future and is not topical at the moment.”
Marotta tried to move on from the Lukaku drama in the summer.
“On the subject, we have spoken on several occasions, it’s part of the past and we want to focus on the present because it’s challenging and we want to honour it as best we can, for us the Lukaku chapter is closed, and we have reiterated this many times.”
He was asked about Lautaro Martinez’s contract renewal and the other contract negotiations going on.
“For him and for many others we are facing, with Ausilio, negotiations that lead to extending their lives with Inter. The thing comes from a strong feeling, a sense of belonging that these guys have shown towards an important club, this can only flatter us, and we will do it calmly.
“It is not a situation that creates problems for us, these are dynamics that we have to manage within a sporting season, but today we have to be focused on tomorrow’s game and the next Champions League match.”
He spoke about the current project and their growth over the last few years.
“The awareness that this cycle started with Zhang in 2018 is growing, it is a very positive reference model that has led us to take satisfaction.
“There could certainly have been more, we missed the most important appointment in the history of world football, but from that experience a greater awareness was born, that of wanting to play a leading role at all costs, the history of the club and above all the fans ask us to do so.
“We must pursue this path.”
Finally, Marotta discussed president Steven Zhang and the infamous Oaktree loan.
“The Zhang family loves Inter and Inter must be grateful, let’s not forget that over the years they have lavished hundreds of millions of euros in funding.”