Italian coach Luciano Spalletti denies targeting Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi, saying his “words were taken out of context”.
The Azzurri coach spoke to Italian channel RAI Sport, via FCInterNews. He noted that despite the media furore, he never named the Nerazzurri coach in his comments.
For several days, a small storm has been brewing between Inzaghi and Spalletti.
This was the result of Italian coach Spalletti’s comments regarding the ongoing scandal surrounding Inter and Milan ultras.
The Azzurri boss responded to a question about the investigation and arrests of several ultras.
Spalletti said he had no interest as a coach in getting involved in ultras activities.
And in fact, the former Italy and Inter, Roma and Napoli coach specifically said he would “hang up the phone” if a club’s ultras called him.
Many interpreted this as a dig at current Nerazzurri coach Inzaghi.
Inzaghi recently spoke with investigators in the ultras case.
The Inter coach admitted to investigators that he spoke with ultras leader Marco Ferdico – currently under arrest.
The subject of the conversation was the desire of the ultras group Curva Nord to obtain additional tickets for the 2023 Champions League final. Inzaghi told the investigation that he had forwarded this request to Inter on behalf of the North.
Given the context, it was inevitable that some would see Spalletti as a thinly veiled criticism of the Inter coach. Inzaghi with his comments.
Spalletti vehemently denies Inter and Inzaghi digs
Italian coach Spalletti believes there was never a dig at Inzaghi or Inter from him.
The Azzurri coach said: “I have nothing to clarify to anyone.”
“I just have to explain what my response was. I was asked a question about a situation and I answered how I would behave in it.
“If someone wants to say it’s Inzaghi, that’s a problem,” Spalletti insisted.
“Then there is the situation that Inzaghi is going through,” he continued.
“I am very sorry to see this, because I love Inzaghi as I love many of my coaching colleagues.”
Spalletti said: “I’m not jealous of anyone.”
“I only answered the question, and it only concerns me because the question was addressed to me,” clarified the former coach of Inter, Roma and Naples. “Then it was taken out of context.”
