“I take all the responsibility for this decision, with which I am perfectly relaxed” – Inter president Massimo Moratti

Before the season started it was also reported by the press that Leonardo was to take charge of Inter, but the final decision was Benitez.

Now that Benitez has left, Massimo Moratti did not want to lose the chance to sign the man that he always wanted after Jose Mourinho.

It is no secret that Rafael Benitez and Jose Mourinho have never had a good relationship. Now with Leonardo in the picture it makes life much easier for Moratti as Jose Mourinho is very happy with Leonardo to take his place.

Speaking to the press Moratti admitted that he will take all the responsibility for the decision to hire Leonardo as the new coach, but also stated that he is very happy about it.

“It is all very exciting: what we have been experiencing in recent times, the victory at the Club World Cup, the chance to build upon what was not just a friendship but a real target, a mutual respect that has become something greater, it has become responsibility for many people. I understand that for Leonardo this is a big and fascinating responsibility, but it is the same for me. I take all the responsibility for this decision, with which I am perfectly relaxed.”

"The feeling is a very nice one that comes from the hope of making Leonardo feel comfortable, from the desire to respond to the needs of the club and above all the feelings and dreams of the fans. Because it is possible to be a president in football and still experience the game as a dream; that is absolutely true, otherwise there is a distance that comes from the lack of enjoyment.”

“Now that Benitez has gone we will buy five players (he smiled). Speaking with Leonardo we were very clear, just as we were with Benitez. I was not dictating orders, because that is not my style, but it was an indication, the same as I am giving now, which maybe comes from my being a fan; but I am convinced that ours is a very strong group, and they have showed that recently. Even if some think they failed to show it some days ago in Abu Dhabi, they comfortably showed it just a few months ago, not thousands of years ago."

"As Leonardo said, knowing each player one by one, the character and professionalism of each one, I am not alarmed by a necessity for new investments. Then there is also of course the technical factor: I am not the coach, I cannot have an exact idea of what will be needed, and regarding that I will listen to the people responsible."

"Regarding that I used to listen to Benitez and his indications. Whether a signing will be actioned or not remains to be seen, but we will certainly be careful, and with the help of Marco Branca who is here with us, we will make sure that those transfers happen, be it players joining or leaving. Undoubtedly Leonardo has had valuable experience, of managing a coach and understanding the club system, the team system, and therefore he has had a idea of the economics at a club, and what is best, objectively, for the club. We will do very well from a footballing perspective, but we must try to do very well from the economic perspective as well. I do not want to take away any enthusiasm with this, because enthusiasm is what a club thrives on and what I thrive on too; should there be the opportunity, I would gladly do something for the club.”

To finish off Moratti said: “From the entire club, a special thank you goes out to Rafael Benitez for having contributed to our winning of the Club World Cup.”