Luciano Spalletti: “My Happiest Memory With Inter Was The Win In Rome Against Lazio”

Former Inter coach Luciano Spalletti discussed his thoughts about the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, international football and his time in charge of Inter in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sports Italia, aired late last night.

“This place reminds me how beautiful this sport can be, that made me live a life like a king and that made me live emotions that in a normal life I would have never done.

“I met the Pope, I heard Andrea Bocelli singing live in Appiano Gentile. These are things that I will always carry with me, it is a privilege that this sport gives.”

The Italian coach discussed how his life has changed in the lockdown.

“This is the biggest mass injury in the history of football and sport in general. Footballers have been forced to stop suddenly like they’ve suffered a muscle injury. How they will recover depends on each one’s ability to communicate with their body during this period.

“We must applaud the medical staff, doctors, nurses and all those people who have worked hard to improve things. This was a demonstration of what it means to work for the good of others, I was pleased to thank everyone.”

The former Inter coach spoke about whether Serie A should be restarted, as is planned, or officially suspended, like the French Ligue 1.

“It’s clear that whatever solution adopted to finish the season, it will make some happy and some unhappy. When we’re forced to change things in the game, there’s no fair solution for everyone.

“I think we’ll have to go back to the game and put our hands on our hearts because people want to watch football. I’d be happy to see the season restart, it will have to be done thinking about people and their suffering in this period.

“With the awareness that football is one of the most powerful tools to return to normal, people prefer to see the games in their free time, it is the entertainment that is chosen the most. And we, within the limits of safety, must also think about them.”

Spalletti touched on his fondest memories of Inter, Milan and the club’s fans.

“I have many good memories, also because we got to the end of both seasons with teams in fifth and sixth place breathing down our necks. They were strong, exciting moments.

“Probably the first season with the victory in Rome against Lazio was one of the moments that made me rejoice the most. Then the victory in the second derby in 2019 when everyone thought we were doomed, to see the Inter fans rejoicing at the Meazza was something that is part of this room of memories that leads to reliving those moments.”

He revealed that he did expect the Nerazzurri to comeback at that game in the Stadio Olimpico against Lazio.

“Of course. When you do this work you have to think in the right direction. The right way of thinking is what the players are looking after, it’s they who absorb the movements, the thoughts, the conviction that they can do it.

“In the locker room at halftime we said the right things to each other, and the reactions were what I wanted to see. Then we needed the players with personality, those who stay strong even when it’s difficult.”

The former Inter coach defended his results with the Nerazzurri during his time in charge due to the fact that they still qualified for the Champions League.

“I don’t know how you assessed my time at Inter, but reaching the Champions League is the most important goal after winning the league. Then if you make it to the Champions League final or have a great match in the most beautiful competition in the world, it’s something special.

“But it’s superior to winning the Coppa Italia, it doesn’t give you a trophy but sends you into the most beautiful competition in the world. We had difficulties then, even though I’ve never used teams for personal goals.

“I’ve never traded team goals to save my image. Either you do things professionally or make a mess. Dirty laundry is washed in the family, and sometimes you take it to the laundromat for a wash.”

Spalletti spoke about his relationship with former Inter director of football Walter Sabatini.

“I stood up in front of him because in addition to being a true genius he’s a great professional and a great friend. At first, we approached each other like stray animals, then it was a collaboration and a total friendship, made up of professionalism and respect.

“Each of us thought we had a better footballer than the other, we spent whole nights talking about football and football players.”

He continued talking about Sabatini and how he helped both Inter and Roma improve.

“If football were a film, Sabatini would be a great director. He always knows how to find footballers who can move the audience.

“I remember in 2016 when, with no money at his disposal, he brought Perotti and El Shaarawy, who were essential to drive that season and do well afterwards. He had total respect for the market and knowledge of what could be used.”

The former Roma coach detailed what he sees in some football players that others might not, such as midfielders who could be moved up the pitch.

“As far as I’m concerned, we always try to make players the heroes. They have to be the absolute heroes, while defending the club. You go and talk to them, you listen to the things they say which you can use.

“By now everyone wants to do well and create a brand in their football history. I’ve tried to see the skills of these players there, I remember Perrotta starting as a midfielder but at Chievo I always saw him fit in the right way at decisive moments.

“He looks like Vecino, who needs a well-defined space and when he considers doing something, he hardly changes his mind because he has a quicker pace. Perrotta, however, knows how to combine other decisions.

“But they both know how to final third well, they have a pull from the outside like Nainggolan. To do this you need space in the area to use, at Roma I then had a player in front of me like Totti, who created space by not being found by the opposing defenders.

“These are masters at creating these spaces. You listen to how they behave in training, you don’t just look at them.”

Spalletti discussed how his first Roma squad came about.

“It was a Roma team made up of players who passed the ball without ever putting their teammates in trouble. It takes a lot of quality to do that and they had it, it’s the many successful passes that make the difference and create a team that plays football well.”

The former Inter coach spoke about his phrase ‘strong men, strong destiny’s.’

“It was born simply. Then it got a particular response, so much so that we’ll try to highlight it because it deserves to be remembered.

“The thing that made me happy was to see a doctor in the hospitals who had written this sentence with the marker behind his PPE.

“It filled me with pride and pleasure. But it is a synthetic phrase, which immediately gives the listener an idea of the ones you often look for. It explains itself, but it came like so many other phrases that coaches look for in order to get an answer.”

Spalletti discussed which players he would have liked to coach in his career.

“I have jerseys from many players I’ve coached and other players I’ve had as an opponent. Vieri, I would have liked to coach him, same for Drogba or Rooney.

“But also, people like Kakà and Cannavaro, who is an exceptional person. But then I was very lucky to coach so many of them that at the beginning, when I decided to do this profession, I would never have believed who I’d coach. These are enough for me.”

Finally, Spalletti discussed how players were once fined for using their mobile phones.

“Footballers sometimes use loopholes. At first, for example, they tried not to let them use the phone. And then there are regulations that are made at the beginning of the year with a cost for possible transgressions, to be given to a charity of the players’ choice.

“There was a fine for answering the phone, at a certain point a mobile phone rings, two players come to tell me whose it was, I go in and tell them they had to pay.

“The player took out his wallet, took the amount for the fine and then answered his partner to tell her they were going to dinner together. What team was it? I’m not saying, it’s better that way.”

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Video – Inter Dedicate Entire Show On InterTV To Brazilian Ronaldo

Inter dedicated InterTV to former Brazil star Ronaldo yesterday with a post on their Twitter page.

The Brazilian striker spent five years of his career with the Nerazzurri from 1997 to 2002, quickly becoming a fan favourite thanks to his quick pace and devastating shot. Ronaldo struggled with serious knee injuries during his time in Milan, making only 24 appearances in his last three seasons with the Nerazzurri.

Inter posted a short highlight reel of Ronaldo alongside the caption: “One word to describe Ronaldo. Today the programming of InterTV is dedicated to him.”

🏅 | RONALDO

Una parola per descrivere @Ronaldo ______✍

Oggi la programmazione di @Inter_TV è dedicata a lui! 👇pic.twitter.com/eZN2HsUZD0

— Inter (@Inter) May 17, 2020

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Video – Inter Dedicate Next Episode Of Show ‘Bomber’ On InterTV To Treble Hero Wesley Sneijd er

Inter announced that the next episode of the show Bomber is focused on Dutch forward Wesley Sneijder with a post on their Twitter page yesterday.

The 35-year-old Dutchman spent four years of his career with the Nerazzurri from 2009 to 2013, being a core part of coach Jose Mourinho’s Treble winning squad. Sneijder made 116 appearances across all competitions in those four years, for a total of 8849 minutes. In that time, he scored 22 goals and provided 35 assists.

Inter posted the video alongside the caption: “The protagonist of the new episode of Bomber is Wesley Sneijder. Do you remember all his goals from the 2009/2010 season?”

⚽ | BOMBER

Il protagonista del nuovo episodio di Bomber è @sneijder101010: vi ricordate tutti i suoi gol della stagione 2009/2010?

La puntata integrale è già disponibile su @DAZN_IT 👉https://t.co/p6uxvFVnYk pic.twitter.com/9UarvLXb9v

— Inter (@Inter) May 17, 2020

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Photo – Inter Defender Diego Godin Remembers 2013/14 La Liga Win With Atletico Madrid

Inter defender Diego Godin remembered his former club Atletico Madrid’s Spanish league title victory in the 2013/14 season in a post on his Twitter page today.

The 34-year-old Uruguayan, who is contracted to the Nerazzurri until 2022, made 51 appearances across all competitions that season for Diego Simeone’s squad. In that time, he scored eight goals and was a core part of the squad that won the league title.

Godin posted a photo of himself from that season on his Twitter.

17/5 🙏❤pic.twitter.com/dukS3H0aGX

— Diego Godín (@diegogodin) May 17, 2020

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Photo – Ivan Cordoba: “Thank You Javier Zanetti For Wonderful Chat Of Our Memories At Inter”

Former Inter defender Ivan Ramiro Cordoba thanked Nerazzurri vice president Javier Zanetti for their video call with a post on his Instagram page.

The Colombian spent the last 12 years of his career with the Nerazzurri, being a core part of the famous Treble winning side alongside Zanetti and other stars like Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito. Cordoba won five league titles, four Coppa Italia, four Supercoppa Italiana, a FIFA Club World Cup and a Champions League with Inter.

Cordoba posted a screenshot from the video call alongside the caption: “Thank you for this wonderful chat where we shared with our fans all those moments at Inter lived together.”

View this post on Instagram

Grazie amico @javierzanetti per questa magnifica chiacchierata dove abbiamo condiviso con i nostri tifosi, tutti quei momenti all’ @inter vissuti insieme. Gracias amigo @javierzanetti por esta magnífica charla donde compartimos con nuestros hinchas, todos esos momentos de @inter vividos juntos.

A post shared by Iván Ramiro Córdoba (@ivanramiroc) on May 16, 2020 at 2:17pm PDT

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Italian Media Reports Inter Wont Resume Squad Training Tomorrow

No training sessions were scheduled for Inter this morning, as the club have remained firm regarding their position on the FIGC medical protocol, according to a report from today’s paper edition of the Rome based newspaper Corriere dello Sport.

The report details how the Nerazzurri squad have spent the last nine consecutive days training at the re-opened Suning Training Centre, undergoing individual training sessions.

The club have decided to keep their squad at home, waiting to see what will happen regarding the FIGC protocol, which has been much criticised.

The squad will not undergo squad training sessions tomorrow, the report continues, due to some restrictive conditions.

The squad, alongside coach Antonio Conte and his staff, received the results of their Coronavirus tests earlier today. They will now wait until the future of the FIGC’s medical protocols have been decided. The Bundesliga returned this weekend, being the first major European league to do so

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Valencia Interested In Signing €30M Rated Inter Midfielder Matias Vecino

Valencia are interested in signing Inter midfielder Matias Vecino, according to a report from Italian media outlet FcInterNews earlier today.

The report details how the Nerazzurri are happy to sell the 28-year-old Uruguayan midfielder, who is contracted to the Milanese club until 2022.

In the January transfer window, he was linked with a move to Everton, but the Premier League side didn’t offer the requested €30 million. In the summer multiple clubs are expected to come in for him from both the Premier League and the Bundesliga.

Valencia are particularly interested in signing Vecino, the report continues, and want to take advantage of their excellent relationship with the player’s agent Alessandro Lucci, who also managed the deal that saw Alessandro Florenzi join the side on loan. The player is willing to consider a move away.

Vecino has made 23 appearances across all competitions so far this season, for a total of 1676 minutes. In that time, he has scored three goals and provided one assist.

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Italian Media Reports Inter Ahead Of Juventus In Sandro Tonali Talks

Inter and Juventus will be battling it out for many of the same targets in the upcoming summer transfer window, according to a report from Italian news broadcaster ANSA released earlier tonight and reported via FcInter1908.

According to the report, it’s unlikely that Juventus will sign Inter target Sandro Tonali, as the Nerazzurri are ahead in the talks with the player.

The Nerazzurri are hoping to fund multiple deals with funds earned from the sale of the 22-year-old Lautaro to Barcelona, with the Milanese club not accepting a fee lower than €111 million, the player’s release clause.

The report details how the Bianconeri are interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Arthur, a player who was offered to Inter by the Blaugrana in the negotiations surrounding Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez.

Both clubs are also interested in Santos talent Kaio Jorge, an 18-year-old Brazilian striker who has a release clause worth €50 million valid for foreign teams. The price is negotiable, and a deal could be closed out at €30 million.

In conclusion, the report details that Inter have blocked Napoli’s Dries Mertens and are looking at RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner if Barcelona were to sign Lautaro Martinez.

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Inter Linked Szoboszlai’s Agent: “Serie A Is One Of The Most Likely Destinations For Him”

Inter target Dominik Szoboszlai’s agent, Matyas Esterhazy, discussed the future of the 19-year-old RB Salzburg midfielder in an interview with Italian media outlet TuttoMercatoWeb earlier today.

“We are not thinking about names of clubs, but whether to take a longer or a shorter step. We are just thinking about the possibilities, the right project. Of course, for us, playing time is a necessity.

“We will choose the one that improves him as much as possible. In my opinion Dominik has the chance to be one of the best players in Europe in his role.”

Esterhazy then discussed the idea of moving to Serie A.

“At the end of the day the final choice will be made by the player. In my opinion Italian football can be a good destination. If the time is right, Serie A is one of the most likely choices, of course.”

Finally, Esterhazy commented on the 19-year-old Hungarian midfielder’s price.

“It’s very difficult to talk about his value, as it’s defined by the transfer market. But never as unstable as it is today, Coronavirus will have repercussions, probably in terms of prices. It will be complicated to define it all.”

Szoboszlai, who is contracted to RB Salzburg until 2022, has made 29 appearances across all competitions so far this season, for a total of 1790 minutes. In that time, he has scored four goals and provided seven assists.

Inter are looking to strengthen their midfield department in the upcoming summer transfer window, as coach Antonio Conte wants to build a strong project that will close the gap with Juventus and help the Nerazzurri challenge for both national and continental trophies.

The Nerazzurri are also looking at other strong midfielders for a summer move, like Fiorentina starlet Gaetano Castrovilli or Brescia midfielder Sandro Tonali.

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Panathinaikos Youngster Vagiannidis Close To Joining Inter Who Ponder Loaning Him To Hellas Verona

Panathinaikos talent Georgios Vagiannidis is close to signing for Inter, who are planning to loan him out, according to a report from today’s paper edition of the Turin based newspaper Tuttosport.

The report details how the Nerazzurri are keen to sign the 18-year-old Greek defender, whose contract expires with Panathinaikos at the end of this season. Inter have offered him a five-year contract worth around €500 thousand, with the club then giving Panathinaikos €400 thousand in compensation, who have already been warned by Inter that they are in contact with the player.

Vagiannidis will not join the first team, the report continues, although he will be evaluated by coach Antonio Conte in the pre-season training camp. The player will be loaned out to a friendly club, which could be Hellas Verona, who the Nerazzurri have been in talks with for some time now regarding Marash Kumbulla. Vagiannidis could be included in that deal.

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