Former Inter defender Marco Materazzi has revealed that Marco Branca, then technical director of the Nerazzuri, had sanctioned the Italian to be sold to Spanish outfit Villarreal.
The 2006 World Cup winner has stated that he didn’t consider leaving the Biscione, and feels fortunate to have remained at the club.
“I was very close to signing for Villarreal,” he told Fcinternews.it. “Fortunately I didn’t, and we all know how it ended that season.
“Branca was the first person to hold negotiations. Everything went on without my consent because it was definitely not my intention to leave Inter.
“I was upset because it was not a nice thing to try and offload someone who was essentially in the starting XI.
“The decision to remain at Inter was in the end made in part by me and partly by the club. I spoke with [Massimo] Moratti and in the end we decided to stay together. Later, I became World Champion.”
Materazzi made over 200 appearances for Inter in the Serie A, winning five Scudetti, a UEFA Champions League medal, and the Club World Cup.
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