Moratti recalls Juventus’ ‘robbery’, calls Pirlo his ‘proudest’ signing and ‘biggest regret’

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 13: Massimo Moratti attends the presentation of Ivan Zazzaroni’s new book ‘Diventare Mourinho’ at the Rizzoli bookshop in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on October 13, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vincenzo Lombardo/Getty Images)

Former Inter president Massimo Moratti considers the 2010 treble-winning side and his father’s Grande Inter among his fondest memories as a Nerazzurri supporter, but he also stressed his deep attachment to the team denied the 1998 Serie A title by what he described as a ‘robbery’ by Juventus.

“My father’s ‘Grande Inter’ was a model, and it remains in my heart,” Moratti told La Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview.

“It was the football equivalent of The Beatles — unique, like that band that defined an entire era. I couldn’t draw musical comparisons with any of the other teams I had as president later on.

“The Treble-winning side made history, of course, but I’m also very attached to the wonderful lads from 1998, who didn’t win the Scudetto only because of a robbery by Juventus.

“Juventus in those years were like a wall — they made you suffer because they took away all hope. It was a wall you just couldn’t get past.

“But when we finally did, we won everything. Calciopoli remains one of the darkest pages in Italian football, something best forgotten. Abroad, I never had a fixed enemy, although Manchester United did make us suffer.”

Moratti: We made a mistake by selling Pirlo to Milan, madness is in Inter’s DNA

Reflecting on his long ownership at the San Siro, Moratti mentioned a somewhat surprising name when asked which signing made him proudest.

“Pirlo — partly because I handled the deal personally. I signed the contract in an elevator after telling the Brescia president we had to get it done quickly,” the former president recalled.

However, the World Cup winner is also Moratti’s biggest regret, due to the decision to let him leave for the city rivals.

“Also Pirlo [the signing I regret the most]… It was a mistake to let him go, especially to Milan. A kind of reverse-Calhanoglu, even if the Turkish player left on a free.”

The 79-year-old struggles to understand how an Inter side that managed to compete on nearly every front until the very end failed to win even once against a struggling Milan team this season — but it’s a price he’s more than willing to pay for the kind of campaign the Nerazzurri are enjoying.

“It’s still a mystery how we didn’t beat Milan, but I’d gladly trade that for everything we achieved afterwards,” Moratti continued.

“Let’s not joke [on what I would’ve preferred]. On one side you have a team with international stature, feared as one of the strongest in the world.

“The others are trophies won by a team that’s fallen short in many areas — although they might do better in the future.”

Finally, Moratti couldn’t help but comment on Inter’s dramatic win over Barcelona in the Champions League semifinal, admitting he no longer believed Simone Inzaghi’s men could reach the final after the Blaugrana’s late third goal.

“No [I didn’t believe anymore], because the team looked completely lifeless,” he added.

“Even the fans had given up, to some extent. Then Acerbi hit that incredible ball, which gave everyone energy and changed the story.

“Madness is in our DNA. But yes, Tuesday’s game will always be special.

“I have to admit I don’t know PSG that well, but they seem more complete and solid than Barcelona, who play entertaining football but leave too much space at the back. I think a lot will depend on how the match starts — if we score early, it could get very interesting.”