Antonio Conte has dismissed Jose Mourinho’s criticism of him over Inter Milan’s transfer move for Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen and says he has done nothing wrong.
Eriksen is out of contract in the summer and has been speaking to Inter over a move – either now if the Italian side can agree a fee or at the end of the campaign for free – but Mourinho was angry with how Conte has conducted himself.
Mourinho criticised ‘people with responsibilities’ speaking about Eriksen, later clarifying that he was referencing Conte and saying all coaches ‘should behave the same way’ and not talk about other teams’ players.
But Conte, who has a long-running feud with Mourinho and often had issues with him in the past, does not believe he said anything to ginger such rebuke from Mourinho.
Asked about transfers, and the Eriksen situation, The Italian boss told Sky Sport Italia: ‘I no longer talk about the transfer market. The last time I did it, someone we all know twisted my words so I won’t say anything anymore.
‘I never said anything unusual about the January transfer market making it difficult for all coaches. Every time I say something, it always gets amplified or twisted.
‘I repeat, I am happy with these players. The club is making its evaluations, we must try to keep working if we want to maintain a solid points average.
‘The club has to decide if it wants to do something, if it wants to do it at a good price for the market or take a different approach. I am just a coach, I leave that to them.’
Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta was also angry with Mourinho’s comments about their talks over Eriksen and insists they are within their rights to speak to a player whose deal is expiring.
‘He [Eriksen] is a Tottenham player, but we know his contract expires in June,’ Marotta told Sky Sport Italia.
‘It’s completely legitimate and authorised by current regulations to see his agent during this time.
‘But, at this point, to say that he will arrive in January or June, is a long way off because the competition is so great.’
