Piero Ausilio has provided a uncommon and candid glimpse backstage at Inter Milan, addressing every little thing from the membership’s appointment of Cristian Chivu to a long-forgotten pursuit of Cesc Fabregas, as a participant, not a coach, in a wide-ranging interview with YouTube channel Colpi da Maestro.
The sporting director, who has been a central determine at Inter by a number of possession regimes, was reflective on the membership’s journey.
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“We grew, I believe that’s the phrase that greatest represents my story right here,” he mentioned, with , acknowledging the troublesome years working beneath UEFA’s Monetary Truthful Play restrictions earlier than Oaktree’s arrival helped stabilise the membership’s funds.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Cesc Fabregas, Head Coach of Como 1907, appears to be like on previous to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
One of many extra stunning revelations involved Fabregas, now impressing as Como’s head coach. Ausilio confirmed that Inter had certainly tried to signal the Spaniard, earlier than he had even signed his first Barcelona contract – on the advice of former scout Pierluigi Casiraghi.
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“He maybe by no means even knew about it,” Ausilio mentioned with a smile.
“Casiraghi saved pushing me. We tried, however he went to Arsenal, and given the profession he had, that’s nice.”
Inter SD Ausilio: ‘Fabregas by no means shut as coach, Chivu was the primary name’
As for Fabregas the supervisor, Ausilio is an admirer, however was eager to set the document straight on reviews linking him with the Inter job earlier than Chivu was appointed.
“There was by no means actually an Inter near Fabregas as coach,” he mentioned firmly.
“The primary name was Chivu. After we confronted the choice after Inzaghi, Chivu was the primary thought, the one we believed in most. We knew him from his time with our Primavera, and his choice to take the Parma job confirmed actual braveness. We went straight to him and at this time we’re completely delighted with that alternative.”
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Ausilio additionally revisited one in all his most celebrated items of switch enterprise, the signing of . He flew to Argentina personally to safe the deal at a time when the striker was on the verge of becoming a member of Atletico Madrid, and the negotiation very almost collapsed.
“We had truly agreed a payment of lower than what we ended up paying, round €20 million, however that night he scored three objectives and the subsequent morning we needed to begin once more,” Ausilio recalled.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale Milano runs with the ball in the course of the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
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The perseverance paid off handsomely. Lautaro is now membership captain and one in all Serie A’s most interesting strikers.
Trying again throughout his tenure, Ausilio singled out the wave of high-profile free transfers, Calhanoglu, Thuram, , De Vrij, Acerbi, as a defining strategic transfer throughout a financially constrained interval.
“They gave high quality on and off the pitch and are nonetheless related at this time,” he mentioned. “We took benefit of a beneficial scenario.”
On Inter’s present standing, Ausilio pushed again in opposition to any suggestion that the membership’s ambitions have been scaled again.
“While you begin a season at Inter, you at all times take into consideration successful every little thing,” he mentioned.
“I by no means imagine those that say fourth place is ok. With this mentality you construct your squad and set your aims, and Chivu is not any completely different from those that got here earlier than him.”