Massimo Moratti of Inter Milan is finally living his dream; the one he must have arguably seen, ever since he would have been a small boy during the Grande Inter days of the 1960’s. To emulate his father and bring glory to Inter.
However, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is not getting any sleep. The club stands on the cusp of a historic treble. More seriously for him, this glorious season could be a one-off, if his inspirational manager bolts for Real Madrid at the end of the season.
As is being increasingly speculated and reported (by unnamed club sources), the chances of that happening are very high. Mourinho’s dislike for Italian football is well known. And the egotist in him will be spurred by the opportunity to manage the biggest club of them all. He will also have reason to feel that his job at Inter is done.
Massimo Moratti has a real challenge on his hand.
Logically, he can appeal to Mourinho on the grounds that he has a free hand at Inter and he will never have the same freedom at Real Madrid; what with Florentino Perez and Jorge Valdano having a strong say in matters on the pitch and off it.
But logic rarely works with the Special One.
What works though is inciting his massive ego.
Moratti’s best chance is to build a case around Inter’s legendary manager Helenio Herrera.
Real Madrid have won nine European Cups and while players like Di Stefano, Raul, Zidane and Puskas are associated with those triumphs, not a single manager is accorded the same legendary status. The Spanish club is clearly not the best place for a manager to make his mark in history.
Helenio Herrera on the other hand is almost synonymous with Grande Inter – the man singularly responsible for Inter’s greatest days. He sits on a pedestal higher than that of the clubs greatest players.
Moratti can stoke Mourinho’s competitive juices by challenging him to better Herrera. To take the French-Colombian’s place in the annals of Inter Milan.
Herrera is a challenge that will surely appeal to Mourinho. Known for his tactical nous as much for his sense of self importance, Helenio Herrera could well serve as the perfect role model for a manager like Mourinho.
Mourinho is too proud of himself to shirk from such a challenging opportunity. More so, because with the current squad at his disposal, he has a good chance of emulating Herrera.
As for Moratti. If he can pull this off, he has a chance to go one better on his father as the best owner of Inter.
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