Osilio talks about one of his most proud signings: Onana without visa, sold for 55 million euros a year later

Football 12:24pm, 12 August 2025 99

Inter Milan sports director Osilio talked about how he became Inter's sports director and what he gained since doing this job.

What kind of player was Osilio once?

"It's not bad. Although it's not fast, it's smart and has a good sense of position. You can imagine him as a player like Cambiaso, but it's a little inferior."

bowed to the injury?

"I struggled for two years, and after one surgery, it was a nightmare, and in the end I gave up and didn't even let the doctor repair the ligament, it was still broken. I tried playing a few games, but I would suddenly fall myself, so I decided to stop, I never touched football again."

When did I decide to be in management?

"At first I just wanted to be a coach. After two years as an assistant coach in the youth team, I wanted to stay on the court. I was 21 years old. But Sesto Club President Peduzi said something to me and changed my life. He told me: There will always be a better coach than you, because you lack experience as a player, but you are very smart and can become an excellent manager. At first I didn't accept this view and left. Later I realized he was Right, so I came back. "

You never stopped studying...

" This is my parents' only requirement: you can do whatever you want, but you can't give up your studies. For me, a diploma and a football are enough. Diploma is for parents, and football is for myself. After being injured, I seemed to have some enlightenment and applied for a law major. "

So did you almost become a lawyer?

"Actually, I didn't pass all the exams quickly, but I didn't complete the thesis defense until 2004. At that time, I had already achieved something in the field of football. That year, I also became the sports director."

What is the topic of the thesis?

"Criminology, the topic is: Doping and gambling as a sports violation."

Talking about Inter Milan's connections

"In 1997, Morati invited me to serve as secretary of the youth training department. The contract was only six months. Although there were some risks, I still accepted it. Do you know what the game I went abroad for the first time as Inter Milan's management? It was the UEFA Cup final in 1998, and we defeated Lazio 3-0. Since then, I have never left here again and have gradually grown in the club."

"Inter Milan is a great school. I have held different roles, experienced four completely different bosses, and even from different countries. Morati is stable As for professionalism, Toshir's period was difficult, Suning was unstable in the early days, Zhang Kangyang's arrival brought about changes, and now it is Oak Capital. I don't think my experience is very single."

After working with many sports directors, I also held this position...

"The first person to invite me to participate in this job was Mazzola, who made me his assistant in the transfer market. After that, I also worked with Oriari, Traneo and others, and have been working with Marlotta until the last few years. The cooperation with each of them was very pleasant, and I learned a lot from everyone. Despite this, I have to admit that there is a special tacit understanding with Blanca. "

Which signing makes you most proud?

"Kovasic and Brozovic, we chose them during the Blanca period. And Onana, we signed him for free and sold for 55 million euros a year later. There are Lautaro, Bisek, Tulam..."

How to judge that a young player has the potential to become a champion?

"The experience of working with young people has helped me a lot. You need to be able to identify whether they have basic qualities and whether their shortcomings can be overcome through training and hard work. For example, Kovaci, Bisek, and Lautaro, they all have shortcomings, but these can be compensated through hard work."

What shortcomings cannot be changed?

"If you lack the will and personality to grow and certain physical conditions, you cannot reach a high level without motivation, strength, endurance or speed."

What is the most difficult operation?

"In the winter window, I planned to sell a player to a foreign club, and the deal was crucial to us because the club was in a very difficult time and it was even difficult to pay a salary. Just as we were about to sign the contract, a famous divorce lawyer called me and told me that I could not let the player go because his wife asked for a divorce and had applied for a passport to be taken back. I was almost desperate at the time, what should I do? In the end, I locked them in a room until all the problems were resolved, a divorce agreement was reached and the player transfer was completed. I was not sure if this was the hardest operation I had ever done, but it might be the most important time."

Is there any mistake?

"I didn't sign Kvaratskhelia, but it's not just me that I made a mistake. Many big Italian clubs had the opportunity to sign him. It was just that we played 352, and he was more suitable for 433, so we didn't sign him. I'm used to building a lineup based on the coach's philosophy."

Do your children like football?

"Julia works in the media. Nicollo gave up becoming a player very early because of his poor skills, but he is passionate about football, and he will watch many games and study players. When Ashari joined Milan, he also blamed me."

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