Materazzi: ‘Oaktree won’t make same Milan error’

Inter legend Marco Materazzi believes new owners Oaktree ‘won’t make the same error as the other team of Milan‘ and is confident Lautaro Martinez and Nicolò Barella will extend with the Serie A champions: ‘They are not Skriniar.’

Former Inter defender Materazzi, a Nerazzurri treble winner under José Mourinho in 2010, believes new club owners Oaktree will continue relying on their current directors and won’t part ways with them anytime shortly.

“Oaktree will confirm with the directors that they won’t make the same Milan error with Maldini and Massara,” Materazzi told Thursday’s printed edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport on page 19.

Materazzi: ‘Oaktree won’t make the same Milan error’

“I don’t think Oaktree will make the same error as the other team of Milan, who pushed out competent people like Maldini and Mascara and used them as scapegoats, perhaps because they overshadowed somebody else,” he continued.

“Paolo was even right about De Ketelaere. I understand that one must make the investors’ interests, but It seems evident that it’s worth gambling on Inter.”

Milan sacked Maldini and Massara in 2023 after the end of RedBird’s first season at the helm of the club.

Oaktree took control of Inter earlier this week after ex-President Steven Zhang failed to repay a loan of nearly €400m including interests.

“It’s a shame because Suning built and won a lot,” said Materazzi.

“The positive thing is that the management will remain the same; changing it would be a fatal error.

“Inter are doing well, not only on the pitch. Even at Liverpool, a fund took over and won all they could. A fund where people like LeBron James are involved. I’d not be surprised if there were people like these behind Oaktree.”

Suning won seven titles during its eight-year reign, including two Scudetti. Therefore, Materazzi is grateful to Zhang.

“Thanks for keeping the promises. He wanted to bring Inter to the top of Europe and the world and he nearly made it,” said the ex-defender.

“Hats off to what he did. Now, a new adventure begins, and consistency is needed. I think Oaktree has already studied Inter and knows they are a respected family in the world. The stadium is always sold out, the club is pushing in the right direction. Before COVID, it was unthinkable to reach these levels. The same is true of Italian football, which seems far away from the big clubs in Europe, but in the end, we always reach European finals. We may have less money than the English, but we have more ideas and determination. This is how Italy is made.”

Oaktree’s takeover means Lautaro and Barella may need to wait a little longer to put pen to paper on a contract extension, but Materazzi is confident both stars will eventually commit his future at the club. In saying so, he also taunted ex-Inter defender Skriniar, who left at the end of his contract last summer, and Milan.

“The important thing is that there is clarity. Lautaro and Barella are the captains and I am sure they won’t have problems waiting for a transition that requires a technical timing,” said Materazzi.

“It’s not the directors’ fault. What I understand is that all parties want to continue together. I’d also accept to wait a little longer for my favourite club because, with all the respect due, they are not called Milan, like Skriniar.”