Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta played down suggestions that he could be the next president of the FIGC and insisted that club president Steven Zhang will handle the refinancing with Oaktree Capital. The Nerazzurri manager was speaking with Rai TV show “La Domenica Sportiva” and addressed a number of issues impacting the club:
“I am tied to Inter until 2027 and I am very happy – commented the CEO on the rumors that saw him as the next FIGC president after Gabriele Gravina. – It is clear that in 2027 I will also be 70 years old and I could dedicate myself to sports, perhaps in the field of social issues and in the enhancement of our young people who still cannot carry out their activities according to the right standards. I would do it with great pleasure. A responsibility like that in the Federation does not interest me, although I look with great respect at the role of president.”
Speaking about Inter, on May 20, the financing granted by the Oaktree fund to Steven Zhang will expire, which in exchange has pledged the shares of the Nerazzurri club: “It is a matter of ownership relevance. I do not enter into the merits. Ownership is present and we have no problems. We manage the company with tranquility and we are planning the future. I am certain that this issue will be addressed by the president as soon as possible, for the good and the history of Inter, respecting the fans.”
On the team’s moment after elimination from the Champions League: “It has not changed our future plans because the most beautiful synthesis is in the banner of the Curva, ‘Proud of you.’ We are proud and happy with the players, then in the studio your experts know that in the league the strongest win after thirty-eight rounds. The Champions League is also linked to particular factors such as injuries, disqualifications, or draws. Look at City-Real in the quarters and then Borussia-Atletico Madrid. It’s not that whoever goes out in City-Real is weak. We went out on penalties and it does not diminish our value. Renewals? There are no problems when positions converge in continuing. This is the case with Lautaro and it will surely be with Inzaghi because Inter has grown and he is now a certified coach. He has reached the nominations for the best coach and coaches Inter, which is a great club. We would like to continue, he has a contract until 2025 and there are conditions for him to stay.”
“He has a great learning quality in the dynamics of an important team like Inter – Marotta continued on Inzaghi. There is much more pressure here than at Lazio, he has shaped a group of young players and brought a winning and quality game model. The group has grown with him in self-esteem, even in Europe. We want to continue knowing that there is a company that supports him from all points of view.”
A final comment on the comparison between this Inter and the Juve of his years: “They are historically different moments. Football has changed, today Inzaghi plays a more maneuverable football. That Juve had great players who had won many titles before and then with Juve. Today’s players are growing, they are starting to have some titles. There is a lot to do but they are growing continuously. They are two beautiful realities in any case.”
