Inter Not The Example To Follow - Elkann

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Johk Elkann (Foto Grazia neri)

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Tonight's Derby d'Italia between Inter and Juventus at San Siro will be the first real Scudetto match between the two sides since Juve's relegation in 2006, as the Bianconeri were not really in the title race last season.

Juventus patron John Elkann fired up the already intense rivalry between the two clubs by saying that Inter are not an example to follow when it comes to club management and policies.

"We are convinced that the cost of running the club cannot be more than 80% of the income," said the FIAT boss. "For example, at Manchester United it's 55%.

"This is why it's necessary to develop our finances in a different way. History has shown that spending a lot of money is not a guarantee to win the Scudetto.

"That's why Inter are not the example to follow, but we do think that Lyon and Manchester have set a good model to go by."

To some degree, Inter are both an example and a counterexample of the fact that spending large amounts of money doesn't guarantee success. Before the Calciopoli scandals in 2006, president Massimo Moratti spent millions for years but Inter could not lift either a Scudetto or Champions League.

Things have changed since then, as the Nerazzurri have won three consecutive titles, continuing to make big investments on players such as former Juve stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Patrick Vieira, Hernan Crespo, Christian Chivu, Maxwell, and David Suazo.

Danilo Pochini