Inter director Beppe Marotta gave a lengthy interview to Il Corriere della Sera and dismissed the idea of returning to Juventus while revealing some of his career highs and lows. Marotta famously made the switch from Juve to Inter in 2018 and helped the Nerazzurri to a famous 2020/21 title win. Speaking to the Italian daily, he discussed his early years, what the future holds for him and some of the best and worst players he’s worked with:
Your first memory?
‘When I was four years old in kindergarten in Avigno, with a blue pinafore and a lunchbox’.
What was his childhood like?
“Football was the main theme of my existence from the start. My luck was living 500 metres from the Ossola stadium and from the windows of my house I could see the training camps of the team that was in Serie A at the time. I would look out and say to myself: ‘One day I want to be on that field too”.
And what was the move to get into that coveted world?
“I must have been eight years old. I stood at the locker room door and asked Angelino, the warehouseman, if I could attend training. He, after a bit of prevarication, agreed on one condition. The deal was that I would help him clean the boots, deflate the balls, put the shirts in the wash. In return I could wear the Varese tracksuit and observe the sessions. Then I made a career of it…’.
In what way?
‘At the age of 11, on 4 February 1968, I was the ball boy for Varese-Juventus, 5-0. A historic result, Pietro Anastasi’s hat-trick’.
Was Maroni a committed student?
‘He already had the makings of a politician at the time, he was in the student movement. He, who was two years older than me, came to school with political newspapers. I with the Gazzetta. But we were on the same high school football team, with Attila’.
Who?
‘Fontana, that was his nickname. Beppe Bonomi, the Sea president, was also there. I played as a midfielder, then at 16 I started my career as a manager’.
Precocious.
“At 19 I was in charge of the youth sector. So, along the way, I abandoned the other inclination’.
Which was?
“In Il Giornale, a local newspaper at the time, I used to write the A’s commentary. Sconcerti-style pieces. At the age of twenty-five I was already president of the club’.
Your first signing?
“Michelangelo Rampulla from Pattese.
In 1987 you moved on to Monza, the current club of Berlusconi and Galliani.
‘I alternate with Adriano who left the team the previous year. It’s an important experience because with Piero Frosio on the bench we win the C championship’.
In Venice did you travel down the Grand Canal on the Bucintoro?
“To celebrate the promotion to A, a great honor. Do you know where I lived? At Palazzo Albrizzi, where for a time Foscolo, lover of the countess, had taken up residence.”
Never was Recoba more effective than in that year….
“It was one of the few times when the qualities of the individual disproved Michael Jordan’s axiom that with talent you win races, but with teamwork you win championships.”
The player who entertained you the most?
“Cassano at Samp: I accepted Garrone’s challenge to manage the team even though it was in B. In eight years we took it to the Champions League preliminaries. But I don’t forget Del Piero, Buffon and Ronaldo.”
The most undisciplined?
“Vidal, the man with a double life.”
Was the Juventus call the pinnacle of your career?
“For an executive who comes from the province, big teams, like Juventus first and Inter now, represent the realization of a childhood dream.”
Is it a coincidence that the so-called Paratici system, based on capital gains, exploded after your departure?
“My years in bianconero are part of the past and I can only have positive memories. I do not go into the merits of other people’s work, I think about my Nerazzurri present.”
A process of reconstruction is underway in Turin after the earthquake of the investigations. Would you return to Juve if they proposed it to him?
“I am happy with the path I have taken. At Inter, I am comfortable and I am focused on contributing to new successes.”
Which trophy are you most attached to?
“The Serie B championship won with Sampdoria, the first Scudetto with Juventus and the recent one with Inter.”
Have you never been asked to enter politics?
“Of course. And since in life you always have to have a dream in the drawer mine is to enter it as a technician, without a party card, to offer my contribution in terms of expertise and experience.”
Isn’t it true that politically speaking, your friend Giorgetti is courting you?
“No, look at this. He sent me a message to tease me and say that they had beaten us to signing Carlos Alcaraz from Racing. Giancarlo is a Southampton fan.”
Who do you vote for?
“I am a moderate from the center, not for nothing they called me the Kissinger of soccer.”
Were you afraid when you were hospitalized in 2021 for Covid?
“Yes because the evolution of the disease was unknown. For a few days I wore a helmet, they were difficult moments.”
