Inter Milan chief Piero Ausilio says he and fellow director Walter Sabatini are working well together.

Talk of tension between the transfer gurus has been dismissed by Ausilio.

“Unlike what a lot of people think, we're friends and we've respected each other for a long time," he told Tuttosport.

“We came across each other a bit by accident, but we find it easy to work with each other.

“We've found a balance and the beautiful thing is that we have a similar view of football: there'll be ten players I like, nine that he likes and vice versa.

“When I noted down the names of Skriniar and Dalbert, he told me to sign them right away.

“We complete each other and his experience enriches me: I saw him more than my wife over the summer and, as a passive smoker, I've started having two or three cigarettes after dinner…

“People say we have a small squad, but we're only in one competition until January. Spalletti wanted 20 players and three goalkeepers…

“If he's calm, I trust him. We signed three players from other Serie A teams, and they're doing very well. As for the three that came from abroad, we know it takes time."