Former Inter coach Roberto Mancini has paid tribute to Massimo Moratti a day after the president confirmed the sale of the majority shares of the Serie A club to foreign investors.

Inter announced on Tuesday they had reached a binding agreement over the sale of a 70 per cent stake of Inter to International Sports Capital, led by Indonesian billionaire Erick Thohir.

Moratti, who has owned Inter for the last 18 years, is set to retain a role at the club and keep a 30 per cent stake.

“I have read that Moratti could remain as president and I interpret that as a sign of love,” Mancini said.

“Inter is his life since he was a young boy and it’s difficult to remain with limited power in a house where you have been the only owner.

“The Inter fans can be calm because if Moratti has chosen Thohir is because that was the best possible prospect.”

Moratti’s family have owned or been directors at Inter for over half a century.

He bought the club in 1995 from Ernesto Pellegrini, following in the footsteps of his own father Angelo, who owned Inter from 1955 to 1968, during the side’s ‘golden age’.

The Milan-based club have won the league title 18 times, five under Massimo Moratti, and have also lifted the European Cup on three occasions.

Mancini does not hold a grudge against Moratti for being sacked by Inter in May 2008 and replaced by Jose Mourinho.

“I have a lot of affection for Moratti and I know he feels the same way about me,” he said.

“I was surprised when he announced his decision not to keep me as coach but he had already made up his mind.

“After a period of silence as it always happens when a working relationship ends, we started talking again.”