MILAN - FC Internazionale managing director Marco Fassone was a guest on Rai's long-standing sports programme Domenica Sportiva on Sunday night, when he commented on a range of topics.
The Nerazzurri MD had this to say about the game between Atalanta and Genoa on Sunday evening: "Atalanta are just a few points behind us? There's no doubt that they are a great team, they proved that against us. Plus Colantuono's a good coach, he gets them playing well.
"Livaja's future? We know him very well, we co-own him. Young players occasionally go a bit over the top and that needs to be managed and controlled."
He then responded to a joke by Gene Gnocchi: "Cambiasso like Ryan Giggs? He could be!"
On recent comments made by Rudi Garcia and Antonio Conte: "I'm not going to get into the Conte-Garcia dispute. When coaches at big clubs talk, they make their point. The fact that it's a verbal spat between the two coaches who have taken their sides into the top two is not a bad thing in my opinion. It's just a shame we're not in those positions."
Speaking about Inter's ambitions and future, he explained: "A club of Inter's stature and tradition must always aim to be in the top three. Football is not an exact science though and you get seasons like this when you come to the end of an important cycle. I don't know if I can say we'll be up there again next year but we'll certainly be aiming to."
He also had this to say to Don Mazzi, another guest on the programme: "I don't think it's a case of 'playing well in one half and badly in the other'. There's always opposition involved. Icardi? He played against Napoli and kept their backline busy.
"I think the president has made it clear to all of us that the primary objective is to get the club back on a sound financial footing as soon as possible, but that doesn't mean we can't spend. Resources are there to be invested and spent well.
"Are we happy with Mazzarri? We're very happy with our coach and the work he's done, considering the particular circumstances this year. We've experienced a unique situation for a football club: a family like the Morattis selling a part of the club in the middle of a season, following a number of years that have seen a succession of coaches and a sixth and a ninth place finish, and the fifth place we find ourselves in now."
Fassone was also asked to comment on recent statements made by honorary president Massimo Moratti: "I don't want to interpret Moratti's words. I think he is very fond of Mourinho. When Thohir says we'll stick with Mazzarri he does so in complete harmony with Moratti – they always agree on such important matters."
Could not renewing the expiring contracts generate the cash [around €35 million according to journalist Ivan Zazzaroni] needed to invest in transfers? "The figure must be proportionate to our outlays and it may be higher or lower than the figure you quoted. We signed Hernanes in January and a large chunk of the fee will have to be paid next year so that's something we have to bear in mind. We perhaps got ahead of ourselves a bit and from a purely financial perspective it was maybe a deal that we shouldn't have done, but we reasoned that it was something important we needed to do, that it was clearly something the team needed. After he arrived the side made very good progress in February and early March. All things told, it's a deal we're happy with.
"Nilton? He's one of a number of players who could play an important role for us in midfield. We'll see.
"Ausilio is very good at what he does, he's scanning the market and has lots of ideas: we'll find the right one. He's trying to put together a squad that will allow the coach to implement the system that has brought him to where he is today or potentially play four at the back.
"Hamsik? He's an excellent player, I met him professionally in Naples, and the coach would definitely be happy too. But he's a Napoli player and he should be treated as such: it's not feasible."
Probed further on whether Mazzarri will remain at the club next season, the managing director replied: "Definitely. The president has said as much himself. I'm glad you asked me that question so that we can remove any doubt about it.
"I think UEFA are moving towards clubs respecting Financial Fair Play. Teams like ours are on the right track. Some clubs aren't exactly in line with the regulations and UEFA are keeping an eye on them. There could be sanctions next year but we don't know what sort.
"How would Inter react if their coach gave an unauthorised interview like Seedorf did? I'd feel awkward giving my opinion on something like this. I honestly don't know what went on. Usually there are internal club rules stating that employees must ask the club's permission before giving interviews. Every club can then sanction a member of staff who fails to adhere to these, but ultimately it's down to their discretion."
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