Massimo Moratti, why did you decide not to stay on as president and what will the role of honorary president entail?
"Finally I can answer [he smiles]. I think it's right that the person who carries the liability for an operation should also be the president of the club. I must also say that Mr Thohir and his partners insisted that myself or my son should be president and I thank them for that, but we felt that doing something with the liability placed on somebody else's shoulders wouldn't be right, nor something we're used to doing. It was right that this prestigious position, which represents the authority of the club, should go to those coming in. That's what I felt was right. Being honorary president, myself, and vice president, my son, is still important to us and it will allow us to remain close to the team and the club, while respecting the roles of those coming in."
President Erick Thohir then took the floor:
"Good morning and thank you for coming today. I think it's very important to say thank you to lots of people, and the most important, number one, is thank you to God for making this dream happen. Secondly, of course, thank you to Mr Moratti and his family for their trust and continuous support working together with us. Also at this time I'd like to thank my two partners, Handy and Rosan. I've known them for 20 years and they're the same as me, hardworking. We want to be one of the best, that's our motto in life, and that's why we want to do this deal together. And also thank you to our families, Rosan's family, Handy's family, my family, because they've all been so supportive and prayed for this deal to happen. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and text Mr Moratti about the game. And when you wake up at 4 in the morning, you wake up also your wife. Thank you to the supporters around the world who have reached us through the media, Twitter, Facebook, and also personally, in the airport, in the streets: thank you for the support. And thank you to all our advisors.
"This is something Mr Moratti, the new management and myself would like to say together: it's important for us, the new management, to make sure Inter are winning, exciting to watch but also healthy financially, to compete with the other clubs in the world right now. The football industry has been changed. A lot of new regulations are coming, for example, FIFA Financial Fair Play will be established soon. Our aim is to make sure our club will be stronger.
"So the new management, together with Angelomario, the board of directors, myself, Handy and Rosan, we have to work hard, we have to focus and work together to make this happen. Good things... Mr Moratti and coach Mazzarri and the team itself: the fundamentals have been established in the last three months but of course the next two-three years are a challenge for us to make the team sustainable and competitive. That's the reason we visited coach Mazzarri yesterday and we trust what he's doing. And hopefully we can become consistent and become a winning team again together.
"Like Facchetti said, 'The secret of every triumph lies in your own belief'. Our belief lies in our passion and our passion will pave the way for Inter's future success. Chi non salta rossonero è! ["If you don't jump, you're a Rossoneri fan" - a popular stadium chant].
"The role is tough, hard but I really believe, as I mentioned before, that with hard work we can make Inter what Mr Moratti has done continuously. In the last 18 years, what Mr Moratti and his family have done is unbelievable so I think we need to sustain that."
Massimo Moratti, how painful was it for you to take this step?
"I've been taking it for a while now and I've got used to it [smiling]. From an emotional point of view, I can''t deny that it isn't easy. Because of the routine, the familiarity and the affection, it's not easy. But then pragmatism comes into it. As for the future, the strength of the club and maintaining our ambitions, just as it happens in industry it's right to hand over to a partner who brings vitality, fresh ambition, something new. What Mr Thohir brings with Mr Roeslani and Mr Soetedjo is the enthusiasm of countries that are growing and they see this as a jewel that brings something financially and culturally too. I see that as a big advantage for the club. These people are perfectly up to fulfilling this new and difficult role. They have been very respectful and that has helped us to work well. My son and I still have our roles within the club and we hope to still be useful to Inter and to those who have taken this important step."
Erick Thohir, when was your passion for Inter born? Are you planning any signings for the fans?
"As we know, Serie A was very big in Asia in the 80s and at the time I think we were about 10 or 12 years old. Of course being one of the most popular leagues in the world, many fans in Indonesia had a choice to follow some of the clubs. Rosan, Handy and myself have been good followers of Inter for a long time – that's why I said at the beginning of my speech, thank you to God for making the dream come true. I think the passion has been there for a long time.
"This is one the most important things we discussed with Mr Moratti, and between partners. Asia is more than 2.5 billion people, Indonesia 250 million, China and India have more than a billion. We have to bring more Inter fans from those regions, which is what Serie A and Inter did in the 80s. In the United States there are 250 million people beginning to love what they call soccer - not football. I think we have to find Inter fans in those regions to become part of our family.
"I always do all my business with my passions. That's why I'm in the media business, sport business, entertainment business, because those are my passions. I think the same goes for most businessmen: my partners are in their businesses because they have passion for them. I think what we bring here is not only passion but also knowledge as businessmen, the knowledge of Mr Moratti and the family of how to run a football club, and all of us put together create value, to make Inter sustainable."
Massimo Moratti, a few days ago Javier Zanetti said you were "the soul of Inter". Having represented Inter for so long at an institutional level, what will it be like for you now?
"I'll still see Inter the same way all fans do. Everyone feels a little bit like the heart and soul of this club. And I won't be totally excluded from what will be happening because, as Erick has explained, we'll try to work together and build for the future, so in that sense I'll be involved. Emotionally, I'll feel less duty [smiling]. I've never felt indispensable but I'll try to do everything I can to make sure I'm always here to help Inter. As for attending games, I don't think much will change. Perhaps I'll be able to express my views more openly about what happens on the pitch and the refereeing [smiling]."
Can you give us any details of the deal itself? How much is the capital increase?
"I would prefer not to answer that at the moment. You can find out the details elsewhere."
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CONFERENZA STAMPA ERICK THOHIR & MASSIMO MORATTI 15/11/2013
