Marotta uses Real Madrid example to explain the ‘limiting’ transfer market in Italy | OneFootball

Inter President Beppe Marotta has explained why Serie A is a ‘limiting’ league in terms of opportunities on the transfer market, as he doubles down on his stance that the Italian top flight is a ‘transitional’ league on a downward trajectory.

The Nerazzurri executive spoke on a number of topics while at a book launch on Tuesday.

Marotta: ‘Real Madrid signed Mastantuono for €60m, In Italy, they go for €35m max’

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Marotta gave his thoughts on Milan’s signing of Luka Modric.

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Luka Modric of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

He was asked if it is concerning that a player like Modric only decides to come to Serie A at the age of 40, to which Marotta replied: “No, the opposite if anything. I see him as a positive outlet for Italian football, because we all fall in love watching a player like that. They might also want to learn from him in training.”

Despite believing that the signing of the 40-year-old Modric is good business, Marotta insists that Serie A is on a downward trajectory,

He used Real Madrid’s €60m signing of Franco Mastantuono as an example to show the disparity in funds and transfer fees between Serie A and some of the other top divisions in Europe.

MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 04: Franco Mastantuono of Real Madrid looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Villarreal CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 04, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“The problem is that the trajectory is always downhill with our football. We are a transitional league, we are no longer ‘el dorado’ as we were in the 2000s. Today, great footballers come here when they are 40 years old.

“I’ll give you an example: Real Madrid signed Mastantuono for €60m. In Italy, if  a player is born in 2004, 2005 or 2006, they go for €30m-€35m at a maximum. The market for incoming signings is very limiting. Additionally, the big clubs like Inter, Milan, Juventus, Roma, Napoli and Atalanta have resorted to focusing on capital gains.

“In the 2000s, it was rare to see clubs selling players. Today, without focussing on capital gains, we would not be able to put forward an adequate set of accounts. That’s a big difference, and it’s also due to the fact that their TV rights abroad were sold at 10 times the amount that we sold them for.”