Zanetti Reveals Decision to Ignore Real Madrid, Hails Bielsa and Mourinho

Javier Zanetti has given his say on the Inter’s transfer market exploits this summer, expressing his satisfaction at the way the club has emerged unbeaten in the league’s opening three games. Inter made good business with the departures of 12 players, bagging €132.5M and spending €64.25M on arrivals, thus recording an overall profit of €68M.

Speaking to MARCA in a lengthy exclusive, Zanetti took note of Inter’s positive start to the new season, along with a host of other interesting topics.

“We’re happy with the transfer market because important players have left, whom we have to thank for what they did defending the Inter shirt, and new players have arrived with a great desire to be important within the squad. We started the championship by winning all three matches and demonstrating that Inter is still a competitive team today.”

Zanetti shed about the possibility of making it to yet another UEFA Champion League final, after last season’s heartbreak against Manchester City.

“It will be difficult, but the desire to try again is not lacking. We know that in football everything is possible, but we have to go step by step. First we have to get through the group, which is very important. Real Sociedad will be a very difficult team to beat.”

The legendary fullback then drew comparisons between two iconic coaches who mentored him during his career, Marcelo Bielsa and José Mourinho.

“I am left with Bielsa’s ability to bring out the best in us, and to make a team difficult to face, and then with his humility and ability to awaken the spirit he always talks about in each player, and of their work methodology. With Mourinho, there is the ability to convince a group that we could do important things, that although winning Serie A was essential, we could take another step, which was to win the Champions League. We were finally able to achieve it. We are talking about a very qualified coach with a lot of personality.”

Zanetti also had the chance to star for Real Madrid during his career, but he chose to stay put with the Nerazzurri at the Meazza

“Well, I didn’t go to Madrid because Inter were going through a difficult time and I couldn’t leave there without having left my mark. I wanted to be a protagonist and, from the first day in Italy, I identified myself with the club’s values a lot. That always prevailed and that’s why I spent my entire career at Inter.”

Read the full interview here.