Materazzi: Key Inter absence vs Real Madrid, Mourinho wouldn't have made Allegri's substitution

Former Inter defender Marco Materazzi feels José Mourinho wouldn’t have subbed Rasmus Hojlund off, as Massimiliano Allegri did against Inter last weekend, but Federico Dimarco’s absence will be ‘significant’ at the Bernabéu tonight.

Inter and Mourinho reunite at the Bernabéu tonight in the opening round of the 2026-27 Champions League, at the same venue where the Special One lifted the Champions League as the Nerazzurri coach in 2010.

Materazzi built a strong bond with Mourinho during the Portuguese’s two-year spell at San Siro and recently met the Special One in Italy: “José took a plane specifically to record that footage, and he told me again: ‘You and John Terry, the most important centre-backs of my career’,” Materazzi told Gazzetta.

The former Italy defender, a 2006 Italy World Cup winner, is certainly not surprised that Real Madrid hired Mou last summer.

“No, because I know the relationship he has with Florentino, how much he trusts José,” he said.

“So much so that he’s given him the keys to Real again, and José will do what he always does: take all the responsibility, become the one true point of reference.

“The great thing about José is that anyone who plays for him feels ‘one of him’, they’d die for him on the pitch. The bad thing is that he’s missed when he leaves…”

Real Madrid lost their most recent La Liga game, while Inter beat Napoli 3-2 at San Siro, recovering from two goals down.

“Inter would have felt strong even if they had lost: especially in the first half, they played a great match. And you see a strong team when they go 2-0 down: zero panic, no nervousness,” noted Materazzi.

“Just a captain, Lautaro, who raised the level of attention, which means drawing a foul or getting justifiably angry with the referee, picking up a yellow card even though he hadn’t said anything. I was a few meters away.

“Referees, thankfully, are letting a lot play on: they can’t get touchy just because someone stamps their feet in anger.”

Materazzi believes Mourinho would have never replaced Hojlund in the second half, as Napoli coach Allegri did.

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Massimiliano Allegri, Manager of Napoli, gestures during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) “Certainly, to avoid being pushed back, he wouldn’t have taken off Hojlund, who single-handedly keeps the whole team high up the pitch and chases every ball, to bring on – no offence to Lucca – someone less effective than him.”

Chivu, on the other, got the substitutions right and ultimately won the game thanks to goals from Lautaro Martinez (two) and Marcus Thuram.

“Cristian is so intelligent that I’ve never heard him give a bad interview, even if sometimes people try to draw him into controversy, like the one about Juve, Milan, and direct clashes: he’s not stupid enough to say their value is inferior to Inter’s,” Materazzi said.

Ex-Liverpool man Jones was among the players introduced in the second half and Materazzi was delighted by his impact.

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Curtis Jones of Internazionale gestures during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

“He did very well. He doesn’t have the physique of a McTominay, but he throws himself at every ball, and he’s intelligent; he beats his man: you can tell he’s played for a big club,” Materazzi said.

Materazzi has clear ideas about the crucial area of the pitch for tonight’s game in Madrid, but is not 100% sure that ex-Inter defender Denzel Dumfries will start.

“In midfield, although it depends on how they set up: if you play with three and they only with two, they could run into difficulties,” he said.

“I’m not so sure Dumfries will play: in my opinion, José is a bit more cautious.”

Dimarco won’t be available for the Nerazzurri due to a minor knee problem.

“A significant absence,” Materazzi admitted.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 08: Federico Dimarco of FC Internazionale celebrates his goal during the match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at Optus Stadium on August 08, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images) “Did you see Saturday? Beyond the free-kick that hit the crossbar, he reopened the match: few, with a bad knee, would have finished an action like that at the far post, with the clarity to put it back across. Now he almost prefers to provide an assist rather than score a goal.”

Lastly, the former defender said Inter will not have to choose between Serie A and Champions League this season as they have enough depth to go all the way through in both competitions: “The reason lies in three names: Stones, Spence, and Jones. The three Englishmen can make the difference for this mission.”