Marotta claims Spalletti dealt really well with speculations surrounding Perisic and Nainggolan
Inter Milan chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has defended under-fire manager Luciano Spalletti, with the CEO insisting that the manager has dealt with Ivan Perisic and Radja Nainggolan in the best possible way.
Having attracted interest from Arsenal, Perisic reportedly wanted to leave the club but the Nerrazzuri came up with a statement that they had received no formal offers for the Croatian.
Both Perisic and Radja Nainggolan were tipped to head for the exit door in January, with Spalletti axing the duo from the squad in a few Serie A outings.
Inter lost 1-0 to Bologna on Sunday following their cup exit against Lazio but Perisic and Nainggolan both featured in the defeat.
And Marotta defended the manager amidst media speculations that he is on the brink of facing the sack.
“The media world has changed, there is so much gossip; news without certain factual bases. Spalletti said wise things and in a direct way and I do not know how to criticize him; he is third in the standings, eliminated in the Italian Cup on penalties and we look forward with optimism.
“Today I’m happy to see Perisic and Nainggolan on the field, the coach thinks they are worthy; Spalletti sees them every day and evidently considers them worthy as such. The value of the players is not discussed. One had a ‘stomach ache’, now the market is closed we forget this ‘stomach ache’. We must adapt to this particular phenomenon of the open market.”
