In a candid interview on the Sky Calcio Unplugged podcast, Moratti recalled the moment he realised the Ibrahimović deal had worked out rather better for his side than for Barcelona president Joan Laporta.
"There was friendship with the Barcelona president. I told him: 'Look, Ibrahimović is someone who always wins — he is a born winner.' And yet we won everything. I remember my embarrassment with this man. It had not gone well for him with this player because Ibrahimović, with the Messi problem, had not fitted in."
The 2009 deal sent Ibrahimović to Camp Nou with Eto'o moving in the opposite direction. Inter subsequently won the Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia under José Mourinho in the 2009/10 season — with Eto'o as one of the principal architects. Ibrahimović spent a single season at Barcelona before being loaned to AC Milan.
Moratti's other great regret from his time at the club was closer to home. He attended Manchester United's match against Crystal Palace in January 1995 — the night Cantona launched his infamous kick at a supporter in the crowd — and immediately identified an opportunity.
"I said: 'Fantastic — because that means they'll suspend him and we'll sign him.' We met Cantona the day after, and a person with him. I asked for him to be brought to Milan but it came to nothing. The next day everyone found out about Inter's approach and everyone moved to make sure he stayed at United. I think if we had signed him straight away, we would have won the league in the first year. He was a truly exceptional player."
Moratti also discussed the current Inter squad, singling out captain Lautaro Martínez and midfielder Nicolò Barella as players he would offer lifetime contracts, and backing Como's Argentine playmaker Nico Paz as the most exciting talent in Italian football.
On the question of Mourinho's potential return to Real Madrid, Moratti offered quiet support.
"I would be very pleased if Real Madrid signed him, because for him it would be revenge."