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Branca Mourinho Inter 2010Getty

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Inter, former Branca: "I told Mourinho to get lost. The row with Vieri? He asked for it. Guidolin advised against Maicon"

Inter's former sporting director Marco Branca, now working as an agent, has given a long interview to the Gazzetta dello Sport, packed with transfer-market background and plenty more from his time with the Nerazzurri.

He touched on his rows with Mourinho and Vieri, the deals he got done, the players he kept against everyone's wishes and, finally, those who slipped away and went on to make their fortunes elsewhere. Here are some excerpts.

  • Moratti’s proposal

    "When Moratti asked me to become head scout? I was 38: a little frightened, but above all happy. As a footballer I always thought: 'I see things that aren't right, why isn't there a director I can discuss them with?'"

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  • The comparison with Vieri

    "The tough exchange with Vieri? He was the one who started it: if they drag me into something, I don't back down"

  • Tell Mourinho to get lost

    "The most complicated negotiation? Probably the one for Sneijder, sealed thanks to a stratagem agreed with Ernesto Bronzetti, which I cannot tell, and an outright near-row with Mourinho. In fact, not even near. He kept telling me Wesley would never come. 'You have to get me one of Pandev, Julio Batista and Van der Vaart,' since Deco cost far too much. But I wanted Sneijder, he was perfect. I had been on the phone until 4 in the morning with his agent to convince him, when Mou sees me and goes: 'Well done, but we didn't manage to get him to do the final training session before the derby.' I really told him where to go."

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  • Guidolin advised against Maicon

    "Is it true that Francesco Guidolin advised against Maicon? Yes, he used to say he wasn't a professional"