Rome - An upbeat Diego Maradona has visited the training grounds of Inter Milan, meeting coach Jose Mourinho ahead of an Italian Cup game the Serie A champions play late Tuesday against Genoa, the club's web site reported. Maradona, 48, gave Mourinho a shirt from the Argentine national team, which he began coaching in October, while the Portuguese coach asked for an autograph for his son.
The former star striker praised both the coach and club president Massimo Moratti, saying he would have loved to play with Inter.
"Without a doubt. Certainly," Maradona said. "Although I have great respect for the fans of (his former club from 1984 to 1991) Napoli, who will always be in my heart, I think that, with Moratti as president, I would have been an Inter player."
Maradona said that "(Mourinho) has everything. He knows how to speak to the players, the media. For me he is the best."
Asked about the high number of compatriots in the Italian league, Maradona said that "we Argentinians are sons of Italian and Spanish emigrants. But the difference is that for us it was always easier in Italy than in Spain.
"My history was like this too. At Barcelona (from 1982 to 1984) I had a hard time to adapt. At Napoli I was accepted at once, without problems."
The new Argentina coach said he believes he has a team of great players and wants to work on their minds.
About the young Barcelona star Leo Messi, Maradona said he'd love him "not to become the new Maradona, but that he gets to be even better than Maradona."
