Marotta: Retaining the Scudetto is harder than winning it – Inter face renewal puzzle and Barcelona pressure

Ahead of the Serie A meeting with Napoli, Inter Milan president Beppe Marotta delivered a double message: his team is the one to beat, yet the club will also open renewal talks with key players. He said winning is difficult but retaining the title is even more difficult. Marotta refused to frame the title race as a two-team duel involving only Inter and Napoli. He named Roma, Juventus and others as contenders. The statement revealed no tactical detail, but it helped lower psychological pressure around a single high-stakes match. The club will start negotiations with the agents of Federico Dimarco and Hakan Calhanoglu to hear their demands. Marotta stressed that players showing a sense of belonging deserve to be rewarded. The process appears exploratory rather than close to an agreement. Marotta also revealed that Barcelona had tried to sign Lautaro Martinez. He said both Inter and the player were certain about staying. The public reference reinforced Inter's status as a club able to keep its stars, while also raising Lautaro's market value. The source article did not include tactical or financial data, so no conclusion could be reached about squad performance or compliance with financial regulations. Instead, Marotta focused on squad stability, contract strategy and the psychology of defending a title. Inter's real test will happen on the pitch against Napoli. Off-field noise around renewals and Barcelona's interest can be controlled only if the team keeps delivering strong performances.