Wednesday 30 October, 2002:

Inter chief Massimo Moratti has hinted that Alvaro Recoba could have been sold had it not been for his intervention.

Moratti made the comment during an interview in which comparisons were made between his feelings for Recoba, and those of his father Angelo - a former Inter President - who loved Mario Corso in the 1960s.

"There are similarities," he told 'il Manifesto'. "Then boss Helenio Herrera would often make Corso available for transfer but my father always refused to sell him.

"It is a similar situation with Recoba. All Coaches have their ideas but so too do Presidents and fans who love individuals that can grace the field.

"This may cause the Coach problems tactically but this is football. Even if I want to underline that boss Hector Cuper has great faith in Alvaro."

The Uruguayan has yet to fully establish himself at the San Siro and continues to divide the critics with his alternating form.

Moratti also commented on the controversial transfer of Ronaldo to Real Madrid this summer.

"He first told us that he wanted to leave during the World Cup," the millionaire added. "But we were under no obligation to sell him.

"However, in the end we decided that it would be less problematic for us to release him. Keeping an unhappy player with us wouldn't have been right on our part."

[channel4.com]