Ex-Inter president Massimo Moratti, under whom the Nerazzurri captured the first-ever treble by an Italian club back in the 2009/10 season, has paid his respects to former Venezia and Palermo chief Maurizio Zamparini. The highly-experienced club executive passed away on Tuesday aged 80 owing to abdominal complications.
In an exclusive interview with Italian commercial radio station Radio Kiss Kiss (via Calciomercato), the former Nerazzurri president spoke on a number of topics, including the memories of a young on-loan Alvaro Recoba helping Zamparini-owned Venezia escape relegation in the 1998/99 Serie A campaign, among other topics.
“Recoba didn’t play much at Inter. Zamparini asked me and to convince El Chino, I told him: ‘You will go to the most beautiful city in the world, and when you come back, you will be stronger.’ Recoba settled down very well and saved Venice. Recoba and Ronaldo called me dad.”
The former chief executive was full of praise for Recoba, who managed to score 11 goals in 19 appearances for Venezia in the second half of the 98/99 season, before moving back to Inter after the short loan.
“I sent him to Venice where, with seriousness and class, he played in a wonderful way to the point that, even now, they love him because he saved them from Serie B. From a footballing point of view, you became attached to the potential of some talents, here Alvaro Recoba was one of them.”
Moratti then shed light on his relationship with now Roma coach Jose Mourinho, under whose tutelage Inter managed to go against all odds and register a historic treble at the turn of the previous decade.
“I have an excellent relationship with Mou, we feel good. The respect has been intact since the treble. I will definitely go to the stadium to see the match between Inter and Roma,” he explained.
He was also full of praise for Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini.
“He will be able to bring Italy to the World Cup. From a human point of view I am extremely attached to Roberto because in addition to being a great guy he is also very talented as a coach,” said Moratti.
Finally, he gave his thoughts on Napoli’s tussle against the Milan giants for Italian supremacy. However, he still believes Inter are the team to beat.
He said: “Napoli? Now they are regaining their central axis and have a chance for the Scudetto again despite some problems. This is also due to Spalletti’s skill. Inter, however, remains the strongest team in Italy now.”
Inter remain in pole position for their second consecutive Scudetti, but are closely trailed by eternal foes Milan and Napoli, who lurk just four points behind having played a game more.