Marotta to DAZN: “Champions League is a dream” — Bastoni stance, Lukaku remark, and the Allegri–Inzaghi reveal

Inter president Beppe Marotta sat down with DAZN and delivered an interview that mixed ambition, reflection, and a few headline-making statements — the kind of clarity Inter fans always listen for when the club is building its next cycle.

“The Champions League is a dream” — and Marotta wants that gift

Marotta was direct about the European objective: Inter want to aim higher, without arrogance, and get back to the biggest stage again.

He described the Champions League as “a dream” driven by respect for opponents, and said the club wants to return to the final for a third time in these years — adding that after losing multiple finals in his career, he hopes the squad can finally hand him that trophy before he retires

"Winning the Champions League is a dream for me. We'll start again with the same determination as in recent years and we want to return to the final for the third time. I very much hope that the players will give me this trophy after losing four finals. I am hoping to be able to lift this trophy before retirement."

That quote alone tells you the mindset: no comfort zone, no settling.

"We'd like to achieve something in Europe next year. We want to raise our bar and be ambitious."

Bastoni: Marotta’s stance is clear

In the same DAZN interview, Marotta also addressed Alessandro Bastoni, stressing that Inter are not a club that sells by default — and that a player would only leave if he pushes for it.

Crucially, he said Bastoni has not expressed a desire to leave, and indicated he expects him to remain at the club.

"I think fans can sleep soundly. We aren't a selling club. If a player leaves us, it's because they've asked to.
I'll make it clear that Bastoni has absolutely not expressed any desire to leave. He's happy here with us and I think he'll stay with us for a very long time."

Marotta also defended Bastoni more broadly - for the insults and reactions he received after the Kalulu debacle - urging that he be judged by those who truly know him and calling the media reaction “completely exaggerated,” framing the situation as a lesson to learn from rather than a public shaming.

"What did he actually do? Nothing serious. It was a gesture I saw in football 40 years ago, and one that still happens today. The media reaction has been completely exaggerated. This moral outrage surrounding him ignores the fact that he is an important asset for Inter and, above all, for Italian football."

Allegri before Inzaghi: “We met him… but our plans didn’t align”

One of the more interesting reveals was about Inter’s coaching process in the past. Marotta confirmed Inter met with Massimiliano Allegri around the time they appointed Simone Inzaghi, but said the discussion made it clear their programmes were not aligned — Allegri wanted more ambitious guarantees, and the club couldn’t provide them at that moment. He also noted Allegri had already spoken with Juventus after turning down Real Madrid.

It’s a reminder that Inter’s “project” has always been built through timing, opportunity, and fit — not just big names.

Lukaku: the line that will get people talking

Marotta also spoke about Romelu Lukaku, offering a blunt reflection: he said it’s sad to see him in his current situation and added that Inter had already lived through a moment where Lukaku promised he would return — and then didn’t.

"It's sad to see him in this situation, but we know what kind of person he is. It's in his nature, it's his character. He promised us he'd come back, and he never did."

Whether fans read that as closure or a final dig, it’s another signal that the club’s leadership hasn’t forgotten how things unfolded.

On criticism, gossip, and “keyboard warriors”

One of the more human segments from the interview was Marotta’s response to the noise that surrounds modern football: he spoke about learning to let damaging judgements “roll off his back,” describing waves of criticism in the digital era and dismissing much of it as “keyboard warriors talking.”

"I have won a fair bit over the years, and unfortunately, a culture of envy has taken root in our country. Especially in the digital world we live in today, where criticism and insults come in waves. Most of it is just keyboard warriors talking.”

Forza Marotta, Forza INTER! ⚫️🔵