“I Signed My Inter Contract On The Motorway” – Ex Italy & Inter Milan Coach Recalls Moratti’s Role In Building Winning Team | OneFootball

Former Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini has revisited some of the defining moments of his time with the Nerazzurri, offering candid reflections on Massimo Moratti’s ambition, the team’s transformation into serial winners, and a surprising story about how he first signed for the club.

Speaking at Il Festival dello Sport in Trento, Mancini shared how his bond with Moratti began years before he took charge at San Siro.

“The first time I met Moratti was when I was still a player – he wanted me at Inter, but nothing came of it,” Mancini recalled, with quotes via FCInterNews.

“Later, when I became a coach, we spoke again through Lele Oriali.”

The ex-Italy boss also revealed an unusual anecdote about where his Inter contract was signed.

“It happened on the Genoa–Milan motorway, at a restaurant in Tortona – halfway between the two cities,” he laughed.

Reflecting on his years at the club, Mancini emphasised Moratti’s decisive role in rebuilding a winning Inter after years of frustration.

“The credit mostly goes to Moratti – he was the one who invested,” Mancini said.

“When a coach has great players, he wins. I was lucky to have very good ones.”

Mancini Reflects On Inter Milan Dominance And UCL Exit

Getty Images

Under Mancini, Inter returned to dominance in Italy, laying much of the groundwork for the 2010 Treble-winning side.

“At Inter we signed excellent players and started winning again after a long time,” he noted.

“That’s something I’ll always be proud of.”

Mancini also addressed the circumstances surrounding his exit after the Champions League defeat to Liverpool, admitting that emotions ran high.

“We had only been winning before that.

“There were other motivations I didn’t express that night – maybe I could have handled it differently,” he reflected.

Finally, Mancini responded warmly to a message from former collaborator Lele Oriali, recalling how close they once came to reuniting elsewhere.

“I called him when he was leaving Inter, but he told me he had already signed with Fiorentina,” Mancini smiled.

“He’s become an extraordinary director – one of the best.”

Mancini’s words offered a nostalgic glimpse into one of Inter’s most pivotal eras – the years that rebuilt the club’s winning identity and laid the foundation for future glory.