Former Inter defender Marco Materazzi explains why Inter fans ‘will boo Romelu Lukaku, but have never booed José Mourinho’ and reveals he tried to convince the Portuguese coach to stay at San Siro in 2010.
Mourinho and Lukaku’s Roma meet Inter at the Stadio Meazza on Sunday. They have a past with the Nerazzurri, but while Mou is still an idol for Inter supporters, Lukaku has become a villain in the fans’ eyes as he reportedly refused to return to the club from Chelsea last summer.
“Why will San Siro boo Lukaku and have never booed Mourinho?” Materazzi asked in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It’s not that difficult, I guess. Lukaku should have just said: ‘It was great, thanks for everything ecc, ecc..’ All he had to do was to say it earlier.”
Mourinho left Inter for Real Madrid after winning a legendary treble for the Nerazzurri in 2010. Just like Lukaku, he hadn’t announced he’d leave the Stadio Meazza, but Materazzi believes there’s a difference between the Portuguese coach and the Belgian striker.
“He hadn’t said it publicly, but we were preparing for a Champions League Final, not an amateur tournament,” argued the former defender.
“Also, President Massimo Moratti had practically said it to those in charge and we knew each other, so we didn’t need words, glances were enough.”
So, what did Lukaku get wrong?
“Silence and timing. He has said that when he will speak, many things will be understood. I hope so, but we Inter fans are still waiting,” said Materazzi.
“If I had made a choice like his, I would have explained it already. There are things you don’t need to say, like that night in Madrid, but other times it’s important to explain.”
The Italy World Cup winner continued by revealing what he and Mourinho had told each other during the 2010 Champions League Final, won by the Nerazzurri in Madrid.
“Mou told me: ‘Marco, you were on the pitch in the puta (bloody) World Cup Final and you are on the pitch in this bloody Champions League Final.’
“I tried for one last time to convince him, keeping my shirt on my mouth so people would not understand what I was saying: ‘Stay here, nobody else will love you like in our family.'”
“What I can say now is that probably he hasn’t been loved like that again,” continued Materazzi.
“Those two years were a unique story: not necessarily better than others, but surely unique.”