Moratti: 'Impossible to predict Milan derby'

Former Inter President Massimo Moratti has claimed “it’s impossible to predict” the Derby della Madonnina against Milan on Sunday.

The ex-patron admits that Inter are “better on paper” despite conceding that “it won’t be easy” for the Nerazzurri against a Milan side that are on the rise.

Milan are currently eight in Serie A and on an unbeaten run of seven games after the winter break, but Moratti points at the “great potential” of Inter under Antonio Conte.

“The Inter we are seeing are a team that aren’t only growing, but have a great potential,” he told Passione Inter. “Then, knowing they’re in the hands of Conte, who really knows how to develop the skills of his players, I think we will see them constantly get better.

“It won’t be easy, on paper we should be stronger, but you know… to predict a derby is impossible.”

Lautaro Martinez is suspended and will have to sit out this weekend and Moratti has claimed the clash will miss one of its biggest stars.

“I think he’s a very good striker. I’m sorry that he won’t be there on Sunday,” Moratti said. “It would have been nice and interesting to see him at work in such a big clash.”

Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso mentioned Inter when he spoke about the indecisive refereeing in Serie A and Moratti has added his two-pennies worth after the spat between the Viola patron and Juventus Vice-President Pavel Nedved.

“I imagine that Commisso is angry because he came here and put down a lot of money from abroad and now has to deal with some strange situations,” Moratti said. “But they are much less strange than what happened to us.”

The former patron also revealed that he had tried to buy Lionel Messi from Barcelona whilst in charge of the Nerazzurri.

“I tried to get Messi,” he admitted. “I wanted him, but I knew that Barcelona had helped him a lot with his health.

“I left him alone and Messi knows that I have always been grateful of this.”