In a candid interview on Prime Video Sport’s “Fenomeni” program, former Italian national team striker Christian Vieri has opened up about his controversial transfer from Inter Milan to AC Milan in 2005. Speaking with Luca Toni (as quoted by Calciomercato), Vieri shed light on the reasons behind a move that shocked many fans at the time.
“There was understandably an uproar over my move to Milan because I had been an idol for Inter fans,” Vieri explained. He then revealed the underlying tensions that led to his departure: “I was angry with the director and the club. So I leave, and what happens? I expected a call from the president [Massimo Moratti] saying ‘stay here with us,’ and I would have stayed. The call never came.”
Vieri described how his playing time had decreased and mentioned conflicts with an unnamed director. This led him to explore other options: “I called my agent and asked him to check with Madrid if they needed anyone. He told me they didn’t, but in those days I received an offer from Milan.”
The striker’s decision to join Inter’s city rivals was partly motivated by a desire to provoke his former club: “I went there immediately, partly to annoy Inter, partly because I wanted to join a big team. I was happy at Inter, but it’s not like I can’t play football anymore if I leave…”
Interestingly, Vieri also revealed that AC Milan wasn’t his first choice: “My first choice was Atletico Madrid. Maybe they didn’t want me because I was always going to nightclubs,” he added with a laugh.
