Marotta: "We're starting again with ambition and a hunger to win" | OneFootball

Inter are continuing their preparations for the 2025/26 season. The Nerazzurri recently gathered at Appiano Gentile for the start of camp, kicking off their build-up ahead of their scheduled friendlies. They'll face Monaco on 8 August, Monza four days later, and then Greek side Olympiacos on 16 August. At today's press conference held at the BPER Training Centre, President and CEO Giuseppe Marotta officially introduced the new season.

THE JOURNEY OF RECENT YEARS

"We're at the starting line of a new season. The previous one has just ended, but modern football works like this, so here we are, ready to go again. I want to highlight the journey Inter have been on over the past five years, which pretty much corresponds to the cycle under Simone Inzaghi. In Italy, we are the club that has won the most, with seven titles. We have also accumulated the most points in Serie A and consistently qualified for the Champions League group stage and knockout rounds, something some of our competitors haven't managed. We've also earned the right to participate in two Champions League finals, which is a historic, challenging and extraordinary achievement.

"I felt it important to share these figures as they reflect a body of work and a process that came to full fruition last season, when we played 63 matches – about ten more than some of our rivals. This period also coincided with the arrival of new ownership, which is represented here today by Dr Katherine Ralph. They have provided steady yet quiet support: you haven't seen interviews, but Oaktree has been a constant, forward-thinking presence. Investment funds often face criticism, but, in truth, their strategic planning is ambitious and befits a great club."

NEW INVESTMENTS

"At Appiano Gentile, new investments have been allocated and work is currently underway because this is the beating heart of our club. Oaktree wanted to contribute to this process of innovation to make the training centre increasingly modern and efficient. Significant work will also be carried out at the Interello Sports Centre. This shows how much the ownership cares about the development and value of the club. The stadium issue is also very important to the owners."

NEW AMBITIONS

"Returning to sporting matters, we concluded a season with 63 matches, reaching the latter stages in every competition. We lost the final and finished second in the league by a razor-thin margin. It's precisely that small margin we must now try to bridge. However, reaching that stage is itself a significant achievement. We're starting again with the same ambitions as before. The club has a proud history and trophy cabinet to defend. We want to win. If we don't manage it, it will mean others were simply better than us, but that is the goal shared by the ownership, management and coach."

THE NEW CYCLE

"The new cycle begins with a new coach, Cristian Chivu. In recent months, there have been suggestions that he was a backup option, a second choice, but nothing could be further from the truth. When we, together with Oaktree, outlined the model for the team we wanted to build, we sought to identify the right profile. I believe that in any normal company, when appointing a general manager, a thorough selection process takes place. The fact that we also considered another professional takes nothing away from Chivu; on the contrary, it reinforces the idea that this young coach fits the profile perfectly. Moreover, he has an advantage over others: he knows the environment, understands the values of this club, and he knows the players.

"The model has changed simply because Oaktree, with great foresight, has made a significant budget available to the management to invest in specific profiles in terms of age and talent. We've made some moves, and the transfer window is still open for another month, so we will continue working. I want to thank Piero Ausilio and Dario Baccin for the work they are doing. It's very important work, scouting for promising young players. We also needed a leader for this group, and we identified Cristian Chivu. We're proud and pleased to have made this choice, and I believe it was by far the best decision."

YOUNG TALENTS

"Alongside the first team, I want to highlight - and it was what both we and Oaktree wanted - that we have launched our Under-23 team, which will be led by Stefano Vecchi. We're extremely pleased about this. I wouldn't say it's unprecedented, but it’s certainly something we’re proud of: both the first team and the Under-23s are now in the hands of coaches who came through our youth system and have won titles at that level. It's another source of pride, a sign of belonging and a working model that I believe should be carried forward. After all, the Under-23 team will be a real breeding ground for young talent.

"A good number of players in this squad come from the Primavera side that won the Italian title, while others will be brought in and integrated through the work of the coach, under the supervision of Dario Baccin and Gianluca Andrissi. As you all know, I've had the opportunity to be involved in similar Under-23 projects elsewhere. It's an important tool and a valuable resource for developing our players, with the hope that they can become first-team starters in the future. And for those who don’t make that step, the Under-23 project will still function as a valuable asset in strengthening the club's player portfolio, helping us in the transfer market. Therefore, we're very pleased to move forward with it. There's still some uncertainty regarding infrastructure. For now, the team will train at Interello, but I hope that within a couple of years we'll be fully operational and able to have the U23s working alongside the first team at Appiano Gentile. That would be a major step forward."

INTER WOMEN

"For the first time, Inter Women will take part in the Champions League after finishing second. We're seeing real growth in the women's game, with strong participation and considerable interest. It's further proof of how attentive we are to every detail and to all aspects of innovation."

THE CLUB

"I'd also like to point out that, beyond last year's sporting results, we will end up with a healthy positive financial balance. I won't go into details since the shareholders' meeting is scheduled for October, but this is another source of great satisfaction. I must say that Oaktree has played a crucial role in this. Today, we're now part of a truly forward-thinking club. It's a club that has everything required and benefits from excellent synergy among all its parts. Now, of course, our goal is to deliver important results on the pitch."

TRANSFER WINDOW

"As you know, the transfer window will remain open for another month. A team that manages to keep hold of the players who made it successful is laying down an important building block. The transfer market is always interesting, and fans are eager for new signings. However, it's important to understand that a team like ours already has significant quality, which was recently acknowledged by the coach himself. Inter's squad includes promising young talents and proven champions who hold important roles.

"With the new ownership, we're developing a new model by lowering the average age with targeted profiles that can also increase the team's overall value. We're addressing this with focused investments. Lookman is an important player, highly regarded by both the technical staff and the coach, but he's currently at Atalanta, for whom we have the utmost respect. I won't hide the fact that I've exchanged a few words with Luca Percassi; we shouldn't be afraid to raise the bar. It's still too early to know what will happen next. We've worked closely with the coach to identify profiles that offer versatility and tactical variety. Lookman fits this model, but he's not the only one.

"We all believe that, in football, having eleven talented players alone rarely leads to victory; experience combined with a strong mindset is essential. A player with quality, especially when paired alongside a young talent, passes on values and helps more inexperienced squad members grow. This mix adds greater value to the entire squad and contributes to achieving objectives.

"Leoni is a Parma player, and we have no ongoing negotiations with him. Our current priority is focused on other roles and types of players. We recognise Leoni's value, but I also want to highlight that Pio Esposito comes from our Youth Sector, which is among the best in the business. The success of our two coaches is proof of that. We have faced difficult times and had to sell several young prospects, but now we hope to uncover new talents right within our Youth Sector. Leoni is undoubtedly talented, and today Parma have a valuable pool of assets."

NEW MODEL

"We're a club with a lot of courage, a quality inherent in each of us. Even when mistakes are made, it's important to be aware and rational in our decisions. We're confident that we'll stand by this team through challenges, supporting everything the coach and players do. We're one group – club and team – with a daily presence: everyone at Inter works together to support our teams' activities. Chivu embodies important values: a strong sense of belonging and a strong work ethic, which are purely beneficial. These qualities may not guarantee victories, but they certainly help – and that's no small thing."