Beppe Marotta reveals why his Juventus exit was not about Cristiano Ronaldo, choosing Antonio Conte and Cristian Chivu for Inter, but also that he approached Max Allegri before hiring Simone Inzaghi.
The chief has a long history in Italian football, unusually at three different clubs, as he started out at an impressive Sampdoria side that punched above their weight.
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He came to Juventus as director general from 2010 to 2018, then was surprisingly dismissed in October 2018.
Just a few weeks later, he was snapped up by their bitter rivals Inter, promoted to the role of President in 2024.
Marotta career path through Juventus to Inter
PISA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 30: Giuseppe Marotta of FC Internazionale looks on prior to the Serie A match between Pisa SC and FC Internazionale at Arena Garibaldi on November 30, 2025 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“It was clear that the owner and President wanted to change the managerial structure,” explained Marotta to DAZN of that Juventus break.
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“Andrea Agnelli had gained experience and legitimately wanted a role as protagonist. With great respect and friendship, we took different paths.”
There were reports at the time and for many years later that the split was caused because Marotta was against the idea of signing Cristiano Ronaldo, a move pushed by Agnelli and Fabio Paratici.
TURIN, ITALY – AUGUST 14: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Juventus and Atalanta BC at Allianz Stadium on August 14, 2021 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)
“That has become an urban legend now. It’s true I didn’t agree with that move, but it was never an argument. The President made his choice, I accepted it.
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“The day of my departure was sad after eight years, but I was sure that when one door closed, another would open, and it happened within 24 hours. I was so shocked by the call from Inter President Steven Zhang that I thought it was a prank.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 29: Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta during the “Panchina d’Oro” award season 2022/2023 at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on January 29, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Marotta has overseen great success at Inter, including three Serie A titles and two Champions League Finals.
He made some bold decisions at the club, especially when it came to picking their coaches.
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“When I arrived at Inter, Luciano Spalletti was part of the past, so with all due respect we needed a change and we went for Conte. Motivation is his greatest strength, he is very intuitive, knows when to raise his voice at the right moments. Conversations with him could be exhausting, but it’s more relaxed away from football.”
epa11294807 Inter’s coach Simone Inzaghi (R) and CEO Giuseppe Marotta celebrate after winning the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and FC Inter, in Milan, 22 April 2024. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
What few know is that Marotta and Inter met with Allegri before picking Simone Inzaghi as the Conte replacement in 2021.
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“I won’t deny that we met with Allegri before hiring Inzaghi, as he had exchanged quite a few words with Juve after rejecting Real Madrid. Apart from that, our discussion showed that his plans and ours were totally irreconcilable.”
epa04401890 Juventus’ head coach Massimiliano Allegri (R) talks with sporting director Giuseppe Marotta (L) during their team’s training session in Turin, Italy, 15 September 2014. Juventus FC will face Malmo FF in the UEFA Champions League group A soccer match on 16 September 2014. EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO
Inzaghi walked away just hours after losing the Champions League Final 5-0 to Paris Saint-Germain, as he already had an agreement in place with Al-Hilal.
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Although this seemed common knowledge in the media, it still came as a surprise of sorts to Inter.
“The Monday after that Final, we signed the termination by mutual consent. He had not told us anything, there was still this feeling of hope that he could remain.
“However, the club immediately made a decision that proved to be positive.”
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 17: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, poses for a photo with the Coppa Campioni d’Italia and Coppa Italia trophies following the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Hellas Verona FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
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That was Chivu, who only had a few months under his belt at Parma before taking the big job, winning the Scudetto and Coppa Italia.
“Italy is full of critics, but we had courage choosing Chivu, you have to take risks as a director. This man was in the Inter Treble-winning team, he was captain of Ajax when very young, he loves Inter and has a great work ethic, he’d won with the Inter youth team.
“These are the things that made us choose him, the club owners trusted us and really respect Chivu.”
Read the full article here