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Massimo Moratti

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Massimo Moratti is a prominent Italian billionaire businessman. He is a major figure in the petroleum industry and international sports. Moratti serves as the CEO of the Saras Group. This group focuses on refining petroleum, which is the oil used for fuel. He is also known for his long leadership of the football club Internazionale, commonly called Inter Milan. His influence spans from large-scale energy production to global humanitarian work as a United Nations goodwill ambassador.

1966–67 Serie A - AC Mantova v Inter Milan - Gian Marco, Massimo and Angelo Moratti
1966–67 Serie A - AC Mantova v Inter Milan - Gian Marco, Massimo and Angelo Moratti

The energy business Moratti leads is centered on the Saras Group. This company was founded in 1962 by his father, Angelo Moratti. The main production site is the Sarroch refinery located on the island of Sardinia. This facility is a massive operation known as a supersite. It is one of only six such sites in all of Europe. The refinery has a capacity to process 300,000 barrels of oil every single day. This single location represents 15% of the total refining capacity in Italy.

Recently, the Saras Group has moved toward producing different types of power. This change helps the refinery become more independent regarding its energy needs. The company has entered the production of electricity. It is also expanding into alternative energy sources, specifically wind energy. This is done through subsidiaries like Sarlux and Sardeolica. Sarlux is headquartered in Cagliari and focuses on making electricity from waste oil. Sardeolica is controlled indirectly through a company called Eolici Ulassai.

1966–67 Serie A - AC Mantova v Inter Milan - Gian Marco, Massimo and Angelo Moratti
1966–67 Serie A - AC Mantova v Inter Milan - Gian Marco, Massimo and Angelo Moratti

Moratti's impact on professional football was significant during his tenure at Inter Milan. He served as the chairman of the club from 1995 until 2013. During these 18 years, he was famous for his massive spending in the transfer market. It is said he spent approximately €1.5 billion of his personal fortune to sign players. In 1997, he signed the superstar Ronaldo from Barcelona. In 1999, he authorized a then-world-record purchase of €48 million for the striker Christian Vieri. He also signed many other famous players, including Zlatan Ibrahimović and Wesley Sneijder.

Under Moratti's leadership, Inter Milan achieved many historic successes. The team won five consecutive Serie A titles from 2006 to 2010. This run equaled the all-time record at that time. The club also won four Coppa Italia titles and four Supercoppa Italiana titles. In the 2009–2010 season, the team achieved the Treble. This means they won the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia, and the UEFA Champions League in one season. They were the first Italian team to ever achieve this feat. For these contributions, Moratti was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

Despite the trophies, Moratti's time as chairman also faced criticism. One major issue was the frequent firing of team coaches. While Roberto Mancini and José Mourinho were successful and long-serving, other coaches stayed for short periods. For example, more than ten coaches were employed briefly before Mancini arrived. These included names like Roy Hodgson and Marcello Lippi. The team's staff also saw many changes. In one instance, the chief scout Giovanni Battista Lanfranchi was replaced after 13 years of service. Eventually, in 2013, International Sports Capital took control of 70% of the club.

Moratti's life is deeply connected to both industry and politics. He was born in 1945 in a family villa in Bosco Chiesanuova, near Verona. He earned a master's degree in political science from Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli. His family has long ties to Italian leadership. His sister-in-law, Letizia Moratti, served as the Mayor of Milan from 2006 to 2011. Massimo himself entered the political sphere by supporting Giuliano Pisapia for mayor in 2011. In April 2020, Forbes ranked him as number 1513 on their list of the world's billionaires. His estimated net worth was $1.4 billion.

1966–67 Serie A - AC Mantova v Inter Milan - Gian Marco, Massimo and Angelo Moratti
1966–67 Serie A - AC Mantova v Inter Milan - Gian Marco, Massimo and Angelo Moratti
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