Massimo Moratti admits he will get emotional seeing José Mourinho return to San Siro to face Inter and reveals the truth on the coach’s move to Real Madrid in 2010.
The Special One won the treble with the Nerazzurri during the Moratti era and will face the Nerazzurri for the first time as an opponent at San Siro in tonight’s Coppa Italia quarter-final clash. Moratti will be at the Stadio Meazza.
“I wouldn’t miss Mourinho’s return to San Siro as an opponent for anything in the world,” the former Inter president told Il Corriere dello Sport newspaper. “I admit I’ll be a little strange to see him climb the stairs of the locker room and sit on the opponents’ bench.
“I already know that I will get emotional because I will remember the images of when he was the protagonist with us. At Inter and in Milan, José has given many beautiful things that will never be forgotten.
“We haven’t talked over the last few days, because it was not the case. Perhaps, we’ll talk after the game or over the next few days. We call each other every once in a while, and he’s always so nice to me. We have remained close, it is true, not only for what we have won but for the person that Mourinho is.”
The Special One caused controversy when he left the Nerazzurri in 2010. He met Real Madrid President Florentino Perez after the Champions League Final at the Bernabeu and signed with the La Liga giants only a few days later, ending his two-year spell at Inter.
Mourinho didn’t join the team for celebrations at the Stadio Meazza the day after Inter’s Champions League victory.
“That belongs to the past. Mourinho had taken his decision a long time before the Final,” Moratti revealed.
“We had never talked about it because May was a crucial month for Inter and I didn’t want to break the spell. We had dinner at my home a few days later and he clarified everything. He will also get emotional tonight because he has a strong bond with Inter.
“It was the perfect end for everyone. He was satisfied with the results and with the challenge he had accepted. We had obtained the maximum, winning the Champions League. If we really had to part ways, that was the perfect ending.”
Last summer, Mourinho signed a three-year deal with Roma, but the Giallorossi have had highs and lows this season and are currently out of the top four in Serie A.
However, Moratti believes Mourinho will bring a piece of silverware at the Stadio Olimpico before he leaves.
“At the beginning of the season, I thought Roma had a good team, although they lacked depth to be title contenders. I wasn’t wrong. I think Roma have improved and can have a positive second part of the campaign.
“It’s a new adventure for him, but he’ll do well. He will win, but he needs time, I have no doubts about his qualities.”
The President who won everything.
They don’t make them like Moratti anymore.
With him and his money & ambition Inter conquered everything & everybody, eventually.
Signed many great players & superstars on a regular basis. The bar was as high as it gets at times.
A time when Inter were a force in Europe almost season after season, regularly competing with the best
Then they reached the pinnacle.
Moratti is Inter. Mourinho was the iceing on the cake