Legendary Inter Milan President Names His 80th Birthday Wish: “Champions League Has Special Flavor” | OneFootball

Former Inter Milan chairman Massimo Moratti admitted he’d prefer Champions League glory over a second consecutive Scudetto.

During his recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, Moratti made his birthday wish.

The legendary Nerazzurri figure will turn 80 in two days.

For nearly two decades, Massimo Moratti was the heart and soul of Inter.

Indeed, he lived for these colors and gave everything to get the club back to where it belongs.

Now that he is retired, the Italian billionaire enjoys watching his beloved Inter as they continue to write new pages of club history.

Simone Inzaghi has guided the San Siro outfit to their second Champions League final in three years.

After a 2023 heartbreak in Istanbul, the ex-Lazio boss will try to make amends in Munich.

Meanwhile, Inter remain firmly in the race for a second straight Serie A title after closing the gap on Napoli to one point.

However, Moratti would trade the Scudetto for the most coveted continental prize any day.

Legendary Inter Milan Chairman Massimo Moratti Makes His Birthday Wish

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 09: President of FC Inter Milan Massimo Moratti attends the Serie A match between FC Internazionale Milano and AS Livorno Calcio at San Siro Stadium on November 9, 2013 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Asked what he’d prefer for his 80th birthday, Moratti replied: “Even if we could win both, I get the feeling you won’t let me have two gifts.

“I’d really love to win a second consecutive Scudetto, but of course, the Champions League has a special flavor.

“So I’ll let the gift be chosen by whoever’s giving it.”

Then, he discussed some of his brightest moments in charge.

“My father’s ‘Grande Inter’ was a shining example and it stays close to my heart,” he added.

“It was like the Beatles, unique and revolutionary in a special era.

“I couldn’t make musical comparisons with any of the other teams I had as president.

“The Treble-winning team made history, of course.

“However, I’m also very fond of the wonderful boys of ’98, who missed out on the Scudetto only because of a ‘robbery’ by Juventus.

“Juventus were a wall during those years,” Moratti continued. “They caused despair because they crushed hope, due to what was behind them.

“There was a wall we just couldn’t break through.

“Once we did, we won everything. Calciopoli remains one of the darkest chapters in Italian football – best forgotten.

“Abroad, I never really had a fixed enemy, though Manchester United did make us suffer.”

Finally, he named Andrea Pirlo his best signing and biggest regret.

He first explained how he signed the iconic playmaker.

“I handled the negotiations myself.

“I signed the contract in an elevator after telling Brescia’s president we needed to get it done quickly.”

Then, he admitted he made a grave mistake selling him to AC Milan.

“It was a mistake to sell him, especially to Milan. A kind of reverse Calhanoglu situation, even if the Turk left on a free.”