How a member of the public convinced Inter and Mourinho to sign Sneijder | OneFootball

Former Inter owner Massimo Moratti has explained how a barman from a seaside town in Tuscany helped convince him, and subsequently Jose Mourinho, to sign Wesley Sneijder from Real Madrid in 2009.

The former Nerazzurri patron gave an interview to Corriere della Sera, published on Tuesday, which is the 30th anniversary of his takeover in San Siro.

Moratti also spoke about several of his Inter signings, and some of those he missed out on, including two of the game’s greatest ever players, as well as Roma legend Francesco Totti.

How Inter signed Sneijder

Wesley Sniejder celebrates his first goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match against FC Bayern Muenchen at Allianz Arena on March 15, 2011 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexandra Beier/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Moratti explained that credit has to go to a member of the public when it comes to Inter’s ‘scouting’ of Sneijder.

“With Sneijder, I have to thank a barman from Forte dei Marmi. He stopped me to say ‘with Sneijder, we will win everything’. He was right,” Moratti said.

“I called (Marco) Branca, Branca called Mourinho to ask if he would take Sneikder. Mou said ‘Sneijder? If only!’ Branca called me back to say that Mourinho wanted him, and so I bought him.”

The Dutchman went on to make 122 appearances in all competitions during his time with the Nerazzurri and was also part of Mourinho’s squad that won the treble in 2009-10. He also reached the World Cup final with the Netherlands later that same summer.