REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – MAY 04: Giuseppe Marotta, Sports CEO of FC Internazionale, looks on prior to the Serie A TIM match between US Sassuolo and FC Internazionale at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on May 04, 2024 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Inter President Beppe Marotta confirms interest in Luis Henrique, who is also targeted by Bayern Munich, but explains why they’re not going for Kevin De Bruyne, Mo Salah or Thomas Muller.
The Champions League quarter-final kicks off at the Allianz Arena at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
The second leg will be at San Siro on April 16.
“The team is doing well and being here for this appointment is an honour,” Marotta told Sky Sport Italia.
“Motivation is not hard to come by in these situations, it’s a great atmosphere and strong opponents, so a wonderful advertisement for football and we hope to impress here with a positive performance.”
Both teams have quite a few injury problems going into this game, as the Nerazzurri have Kristjan Asllani suspended, Tucu Correa is ineligible, while Denzel Dumfries, Piotr Zielinski and Mehdi Taremi are out of action.
Federico Dimarco is not at 100 per cent either and is only fit for a spot on the bench.
Bayern Munich are missing Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Manuel Neuer, Kingsley Coman, Dayot Upamecano, Hiroki Ito, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Tarek Buchmann.
Marotta looks to Inter future and transfer strategy
Both Inter and Bayern Munich are reportedly in negotiations for Olympique Marseille midfielder Luis Henrique, so can Marotta give a clue on that situation?
“He is a good player, there are many who are on our notebook, we are active with directors and scouts, then at the right moment we will make the necessary moves. However, it is very early to talk about a conclusion now.”
Marotta was also asked about the transfer strategy for the summer, where Inter have in recent years been known to lay the early groundwork to swoop for impressive free agents.
Are they really not interested in players out of contract like Kevin De Bruyne, Mo Salah or even Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller?
“In order to be a winning team, we need both youth and experience. We need Italian elements, lowering the average age of the squad and the salary bill, containing costs, but also not ignoring the more experienced players on the market.
“We want to create value in the squad, invest in promising players for the future.”
