Moratti sold Inter in October 2013. He had the Italian giants for 18 years.
In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Moratti was asked if there are missed transfer goals that he particularly regrets.
“(Andrés) Iniesta. We were in a phase in which we had enormous attractiveness and economic power. I am not saying that we could have buy someone, but almost, he says and continues:
“Well, we tried it with Barcelona, we tried in all ways with diplomatic approaches on different fronts, with mediators, we went personally, tried to start negotiations that would be to our advantage. There was no way. They would have sold someone Except iniesta.
Moratti also says that Messi was on the agenda when he was a teenager.
“We followed him during the U18 World Cup. We were about to buy him, but when I heard what Barcelona did for his health problems, I let it go, I swear.”
The former owner of Inter also reveals that he had the opportunity to sign Francesco Totti when Roma had major financial problems.
“The ownership of Roma was then full of debts, full of them. The president was so desperate that he went so far to offer me toti. Crying.
“Totti may have chosen to stay in Rome, but we decided to leave him alone at Inter. It's a football thing, sentimental things.”