Inter and Roma meet again with the weight of a familiar Serie A story behind them, a fixture Massimo Moratti places alongside the Nerazzurri’s contests with Juventus and Milan. For the former Inter president, the rivalry has often reflected the wider balance of the championship.
Moratti returned to the 2010 Coppa Italia final, when Inter beat Roma to begin the run that ended in an historic Treble. He believes Roma tend to be strong in the same periods in which Inter are competing at the highest level.
Quick facts
- Inter’s 2010 Coppa Italia victory over Roma was the first trophy of the Treble season.
- Gian Piero Gasperini’s Inter spell ended after a Supercoppa defeat to Milan and three losses in four matches.
- Moratti once approached Franco Sensi about signing Francesco Totti, but Roma refused to discuss a sale.
- Gabriel Batistuta scored once for Inter, yet Moratti said he would still make that signing again.
- Moratti praised Giuseppe Marotta as a leading professional and said he called Piero Ausilio after his departure.
The old Inter-Roma meetings also bring back the short and difficult Gasperini chapter at San Siro. The current Roma coach lasted only a few months in charge of Inter, with the Milan defeat in the Supercoppa followed by three defeats from four games.
Moratti said the two have since met, shaken hands and embraced. He carries no resentment, while accepting that Gasperini may have reasons to feel differently after a period in which Inter could not find a win.
Roma’s resistance in the transfer market is part of Moratti’s memory of the rivalry. He recalled telling Franco Sensi that Inter would not argue over Totti’s valuation, only to be told that a deal was out of the question.
Moratti saw that answer as the response of a Romanista protecting his club rather than a businessman seeking a price. Inter did take Batistuta from Roma, although the Argentine managed only one goal in Nerazzurri colours; Moratti said he would make the same choice again.
From owner-presidents to investment funds
Moratti also contrasted the former Serie A of powerful Italian owners with the present landscape of funds and corporate structures. In his view, the old presidents could compete fiercely with one another and take pride in keeping their word, but their decisions carried a more personal sporting weight.
He argued that many modern presidents are not true owners in the old sense, or are already considering an eventual sale of the club. It is a change that has altered the tone around the league as much as the boardroom model.
Asked about Marotta’s Inter allegiance, Moratti declined to define it. He instead stressed that Marotta is an outstanding professional, a quality Inter supporters can appreciate.
Moratti added that Marotta contacted Ausilio immediately after his exit, or the following day. He said Marotta had expected a longer agreement, believing that a one-year contract was insufficient, but handled the situation with composure and without seeking revenge.
