Former Inter striker Maurizio Ganz has defended himself from claims he betrayed the Nerazzurri when leaving them to sign for rivals Milan.
Ganz spent two seasons at Inter in the mid-1990s, scoring 39 goals in all competitions and finishing the 1996-97 UEFA Cup as the tournament’s top scorer, but then angered supporters by joining the Rossoneri in 1997, with whom he won the Scudetto the following year.
“The Inter supporters felt betrayed when I signed for Milan, where I scored goals that were decisive in us winning the Scudetto,” he told Corriere della Sera on the eve of his 50th birthday.
“But whenever I visit Brescia, Bergamo or Milan [three of the many cities he played in], I can go with my head held high: my numbers speak for themselves.
“Would I be a regular in Mancini’s national team if I were playing today? Back then I had to compete with the likes of Baggio, Totti, Del Piero, Vialli, Vieri, Montella, Ravanelli… nowadays we have precious few players who make the difference like they did.
“I don’t have regrets, though: I’m happy to have played in the era of ‘real football’.”
