MASSIMO MORATTI & ROBERTO MANCINI

A marriage that was so nearly sealed in 1995 and almost broken earlier this season, Massimo Moratti and Roberto Mancini are a match made in Inter Heaven. Lorenzo Zacchetti of Eurocalcio looks back at what was and what might have been Since Roberto Mancini first sat on the Inter bench, the club’s fortunes have changed radically. In so many years Massimo Moratti’s squad had only won the UEFA Cup, belying a stratospherically expensive transfer policy that had seen champions like Ronaldo, Roberto Baggio, Christian Vieri, Nwanwko Kanu, Roberto Carlos, Paul Ince, Diego Simeone, Youri Djorkaeff, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Adrian Mutu, Sergio Conceicao, Gabriel Batistuta, Hernan Crespo and Juan Sebastian Veron pass through. With Mancini, Inter finally reaped what they had sowed in the previous campaigns, taking two Scudetti, two Coppa Italia trophies and the Italian Super Cup twice. Yet before renewing his tactician’s contract, Moratti awaited the mathematical certainty of their first on-the-field Serie A title since 1989. Only at the moment of the celebration at Siena’s Stadio Franchi did the President assure that Mancini would remain for another four years. Over the next few days, without too much publicity, the two parties put pen to paper. The contract has been renewed for “four years plus one,” so until June 30, 2011 with an option for the 2011-12 season. Together Moratti and Mancini are already planning for next term, when the primary objective will be the Champions League. The two of them have drawn up a list of transfer targets which includes some of the top players in world football, from Lionel Messi and Deco to Thierry Henry, Luca Toni, Gianluigi Buffon and Daniele De Rossi. This seems like an idyllic relationship, but it risked dissolution on several occasions. Like so many of his predecessors, Mancini could feel the axe on his neck to the point at which he picked up the telephone in the opening months of this season and told Moratti: “President, there are some strange rumours flying around, but listen. Do not fire me, it would

be a mistake.” That unusual strategy surprised Moratti. “He got a smile out of me and, even though I wasn’t particularly intending to change management, that phone call wiped away any doubts,” insisted the chief. “It seemed like the move of a man who was firmly convinced in his own abilities.” What Moratti cannot deny is the respect he has for Fabio Capello, who during his administration has often been on the verge of arriving at Appiano Gentile. In Milan there are even whispers of a signed contract that was then torn up – because Moratti, despite other defects, is without doubt a gentleman – to

M & M &

Having rejected a move to Inter during his playing days, Roberto Mancini finally worked alongside Massimo Moratti to forge a record-breaking side

allow Capello to seek other professional choices. That temperament and hardnosed disciplinarian reputation called out to Moratti, who wanted a leader to control the group of champions that were often too exuberant. Last summer, with Juventus’ collapse in the wake of Calciopoli, this option rose back to the surface. Moratti was disappointed by Inter’s third place finish, but the well-known judicial decisions gave Mancini the Scudetto, strengthening his position. On the contrary, Capello’s image was seriously blighted. Even if they could stand and applaud Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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Gianluigi B uffon

Daniele De Rossi

&M&M and Patrick Vieira, it wasn’t easy for the Nerazzurri fans to welcome a Coach who had also worked for Roma and Milan. Publicly Moratti said: “There were times when we were close to Capello, a Coach who has shown he can work well even in difficult circumstances, such as this season at Real Madrid. Nonetheless, we decided to continue with Mancini for the faith we have always had in him. Personally, I first began to admire him a great deal after a Sampdoria-Inter game in 1995. It ended 0-0 and the referee did not award Mancini a penalty, so he lost his head and was sent off.

“I had a similar experience with Eric Cantona, who was suspended for another incident. Perhaps it is the destiny of great champions to end up like that. I was only interested in their talent and both Mancini and Cantona would have given us a real boost. In terms of character they also married well with Inter’s ethos, a side that was always quite rebellious in tactical terms.” So, countering those who maintain in football you can only win with planning, the Nerazzurri are proud of their ‘wild nature’ which also inspired the club anthem ‘Pazza Inter’ – meaning Crazy Inter. Because no human activity can work without instinct and good luck.

Deco

Thierry Henry

As the Kings of Italy it is only natural that Inter have found themselves linked with most of the big names rumoured to be on the move in the summer

Lionel M essi

Luca Toni

MORATTI’S SUMMER WISH LIST

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