Two-time Ballon d’Or winner, Karl Heinz-Rummenigge, who now heads executive functions at Bayern Munich, has made a surprising admission regarding his move in 1984 to Inter.
Speaking to German broadcast RTV38 (via Calciomercato), he has revealed that he had the chance to move to Fiorentina then, while at the same time expressing interest in La Viola strike sensation Dusan Vlahovic.
He said: “Florence is an important place and now it is returning to the top, Serie A needs Fiorentina. Fiorentina contacted me in 1982, after the World Cup, I liked the idea of playing in Florence but then I chose the Nerazzurri, it wasn’t a choice of money but because as a child I liked Inter very much.”
Rummenigge appeared 107 times for Inter from 1984 to 1987, scoring 42 goals in the process.
He revealed his affection of the club through great players like Giacinto Fachetti and credited his motivation to join the Nerazzurri to former president Ernesto Pellegrini.
He said: “I was convinced by the meeting with Pellegrini, as well as by wearing the Nerazzurri shirt that I felt attached to when I was young due to the exploits of great players like Facchetti.”
The executive then revealed his admiration for Vlahovic.
“He is a very young boy who has already scored many goals. I advise him to stay in Florence because chasing the money in his early twenties doesn’t lead to anything. He plays in a nice and strong team, I would still be in the purple for a while if I were him. It can get very strong. Rocco Commisso has no money problems and therefore does not need to have very high figures but in my opinion he wants to make a great Fiorentina, like in the past. Italiano is making this team play very well. Fiorentina’s project is serious and I hope that with Vlahovic’s agent they find the best solution for everyone,” he explained.
Finally, he claimed that today’s football doesn’t possess the spirit that it once did.
“Football has changed a lot since I have been playing. Both for transfers and for salaries, football is less pleasant because there is no spirit that was on the pitch before.” he said.
Rummenigge appeared 593 times and scored 293 goals throughout his club playing career for Bayern Munich, Inter and Servette.