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Giuseppe Marotta, CEO for sport of Inter Milan, during the friendly game soccer match between FC Lugano and FC Internazionale Milano, in Lugano, Switzerland, 12 July 2022,. EPA-EFE/Alessandro Crinari
Inter President Beppe Marotta explains why Giovanni Malagò would be the best choice as new FIGC President. ‘We need an interpreter’ to work with politicians.
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The search is on for a new Federation chief after Gabriele Gravina resigned in the wake of failure to qualify for a third consecutive edition of the World Cup.
A vote today saw 18 out of 20 Serie A clubs back former CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) President Malagò as their candidate.
Marotta glad to see Serie A united
“This is one of the best results we’ve seen in recent years, finding some genuine consensus to pave the way for the future of both the Nazionale and reforms,” Inter President Marotta told reporters outside the Lega Serie A meeting.
“We cannot avoid dealing with politicians, who are a very important reference point.”
Not everyone is happy with the idea of Malagò being in charge of Italian football, as the current Government would lean more towards Abete.
“I don’t know if I am disappointed with that, to be honest,” replied Marotta.
“Malagò was picked precisely because he has the profile of a sporting manager who has been in our world for many years, as we need an interpreter who can take lessons from Serie A to improve our football as a whole. Our sport is an ill patient that needs treatment.”
Abete has the backing of the LND (Lega Nazionale Dilettanti), the amateur league that has 34 per cent of the vote for an overall decision.
“We want to take back the role of protagonist for Serie A, which has been somewhat lost recently. We maintain that we are the locomotive driving the Italian system, even though naturally we also have to look at the situations in Serie B, C, the amateur league, and above all the youth system,” added Marotta.
“I don’t know what Abete wants to do exactly, but he gave a great deal to football over the years, so it is his right to submit his name as a candidate.
“Whoever gets the most votes will win. These are two very important directors, and clearly Serie A has made its choice.”
