Sports director Pantaleo Corvino, former manager of Lecce, revealed in an interview on the "Scacchiere Nerazzurro" podcast a little-known episode of the transfer market involving Inter and Fiorentina. According to Corvino, in the mid-1990s there was an agreement ready for the transfer of LucaToni from Inter to Fiorentina. The move had been formalized with forms signed by both teams, but Fiorentina's final signing was never concluded due to the impact of Calciopoli and the decisions of the DellaValle family, who decided not to proceed with the operation.
Corvino's story focuses on Verona airport, where, according to him, Inter had already agreed to pay 25 million euros for Toni. “All that was missing was Fiorentina's signature,” he explained, “but then Calciopoli changed the rules of the game and the DellaValle family decided not to sign.” The episode was described as "the most sensational case" involving Inter, and the manager underlined how the situation evolved in a context of uncertainty and external pressure.
During the interview, Corvino also addressed the topic of the Nerazzurri transfer market this summer, in particular the situation of TiagoGabriel, Lecce defender. According to the manager, the player has not received offers from Inter, contrary to what some were rumouring. "Has he ever been close to Inter? No, I have to be honest, I have only had offers from Premier League clubs", specified Corvino, clarifying that TiagoGabriel's transfer proposal came exclusively from English clubs.
The manager then recalled his double experience with Fiorentina, first from 2005 to 2012 and then from 2016 to 2019. "There were two teams, but I preferred to stay in Florence," he said, highlighting his affinity with the DellaValle family and with the fans. During that period, the team achieved important milestones, including qualification for the Champions League, an achievement that Corvino considers one of the most significant moments of his career.
Finally, Corvino closed the interview by underlining that his experience in SerieA allowed him to understand the market dynamics and decisions that influence teams. The interview was published on the podcast "Scacchiere Nerazzurro" and aroused the interest of fans and professionals, who appreciated the clarity with which the manager recounted the events that shaped the recent history of Italian football.