Simone Inzaghi's departure for the Gulf wasn't a consequence of the 5-0 drubbing by PSG, nor was it forced by disagreements with President Beppe Marotta regarding future strategy, transfers, or squad restructuring.
The coach, who had spent four seasons at the Giuseppe Meazza and was under contract until 2026, had no intention of staying, regardless of the result in Munich.
The Saudi club official disclosed the verbal agreement with Inzaghi, with only the signature on the two-year contract remaining.
Before the Champions League final, Simone Inzaghi had already decided to leave Inter.
Inzaghi exposed
The truth emerged 17 days after the 2024-25 Champions League final, a painful memory for Inter fans, as reported by GSP.
"He just asked us to wait until after the match with PSG to make it official. Everything was already settled," revealed Esteve Calzada, Al-Hilal's general manager, confirming suspicions that the Nerazzurri coach's mind was already in Saudi Arabia, not on the Allianz Arena in Munich.
"Everything was agreed upon, but the paperwork wasn't finalized before the final simply because, out of respect for Inter, Simone asked us to wait. It may seem sudden, but it was the result of complex and lengthy negotiations."
"Inzaghi had a very important match to play and asked us to put everything on hold until after the final. This season, we finished second, below expectations, and we expect Simone to help us win the league," said Esteve Calzada.
Who would have dared criticise Inzaghi had he accepted the Saudi money after bringing the Champions League back to Inter after a 15-year drought? Mourinho did precisely that - accepted Real Madrid, not Al-Hilal - and remains a beloved figure among Inter fans. Instead, the Munich mission quickly turned into a complete fiasco, and Lautaro, Bastoni, and their teammates continue to repeat, "We can't explain the reason for that collapse!" (Gazzetta dello Sport)
Gazzetta dello Sport added fuel to the fire, harshly commenting on the Spanish CEO's statement: "These words, coming from Esteve Calzada, will infuriate Inter fans. It confirms a feeling that's been in the air for the past few weeks."
It's clear that the former Inter coach had already chosen to accept the astronomical salary offered by the Saudis long before the nightmare in Munich, ending his Inter adventure in the worst possible way.
"We're not here to swap jerseys with Real Madrid players or build a better global image. We have a very talented team, with a new world-class coach, and we're approaching the Club World Cup with the highest ambition," said Esteve Calzada, Al-Hilal's general manager.
The pink newspaper writes that it wasn't just the Nerazzurri fans who were upset: "Inter felt betrayed, as the contract renewal only needed Inzaghi's signature, and even at the time of Simone's departure, President Marotta spoke of a 'consensual choice,' sincerely thanking him for his achievements."
Now, however, following Calzada's revelation, questions, doubts, and suspicions arise. How long had Inzaghi been talking to the Saudis? Had he informed his players before the final that he would be leaving Inter after the Munich clash? If true, sending out negative signals before the PSG game is a serious matter!
Especially if he truly tempted Barella and Bastoni with millionaire offers like his own, so much so that it forced Inter's management to make a kind of pact to avoid losing the players as well.
We don't know how the Munich final would have unfolded if Inzaghi had been focused solely on the match against PSG. Would Inter have collapsed in the same way if Simone hadn't been preoccupied with what awaited him in Saudi Arabia? (Gazzetta dello Sport)
It's understandable that fans and the entire Inter community have many questions. Considering the epic journey to the Munich final, especially the 4-3 comeback win against Barcelona in the semi-final second leg, not to mention Frattesi's decisive goal at the Allianz Arena in the quarter-final against Bayer, the complete blackout against PSG no longer seems entirely without explanation.
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