Pirelli chief Marco Tronchetti Provera remains hopeful of seeing Barcelona star Lionel Messi playing for Inter Milan.

Pirelli remains a major sponsor of Inter, with Tronchetti Provera a former club powerbroker.

He told Gr Parlamento: "I've said it many times before, so I risk repeating myself: the great champions make the difference and the investments on the latter are always a great success.

"A great champion must have temperament, quality, must be a leader. I hope to see more champions after (Cristiano) Ronaldo in Italy."

On Mauro Icardi, he continued: "He is a great player, with him up front the team's offensive ability becomes very strong. I hope that everything will work out in the best way."

Asked about a possible swap between Icardi and Juventus striker Paulo Dybala, Tronchetti Provera added: "I don't want to go into this, Icardi is from Inter until the last day. The important thing is that everyone works together, everyone's successful. I hope it is the same for Icardi, that the controversy will end and that we have a great Inter with a very strong dressing room."