Inter Exec Spills the Beans on a Few Crucial Affairs

Inter director Piero Ausilio disclosed how things unfolded in the main negotiations involving his side during the summer in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.

“We tackled the coaching change only from June 1st. We hoped Simone Inzaghi would stay until the last moment. When ownership asks you to find a solution, you can’t submit just one name. We inquired about Cesc Fabregas and Roberto De Zerbi and then drew our conclusions. Christian Chivu had everything we were looking for, and he was the right man for the top brass, too.”

Ausilio didn’t deny that Inter chased after Ademola Lookman and Manu Koné.

“We tried, as we thought they would have allowed us to change something tactically. However, Atalanta were inflexible. The growth of Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny led us to alter our plans and stay loyal to 3-5-2, which also affected the other chase. At some point, Roma told us that the deal wouldn’t happen, and we moved for Andy Diouf.”

Ausilio confirmed that Inter probed Rasmus Hojlund.

“We were looking for a center-forward and pursued him. Then, during the FIFA Club World Cup, we realized that Esposito had the right physical strength and hunger.”

The director recently turned down an offer from Saudi Arabia.

“There’s not much to say. I’m fine where I am, and I am under contract until 2027. I received even richer offers in the past, but I never left.”

Instead, Ausilio rubbished the reports linking Neymar to Inter.

“It’s hogwash. I’ve never heard from his agents, and he’s never been offered to us. It’s ludicrous to think that teams are already setting up January deals just a month and a half into the season.”