Coach Inzaghi to leave Inter Milan
ROME: Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi is leaving after four years by "mutual agreement", the club announced on Tuesday, as Italian media reported he was moving to Saudi Arabia.
"The club and Simone Inzaghi are parting ways. This is the decision taken by mutual agreement," Inter said in a statement.
Both Inter and Inzaghi said the decision had been made at a meeting involving the coach and club President Giuseppe Marotta on Tuesday afternoon.
The parting came just days after Saturday's 5-0 thumping by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
Talk had already been swirling about his exit, and last month Inzaghi played down rumours about a two-year deal with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal worth 50 million euros.
Italian media said Tuesday this reported had been confirmed.
Inzaghi took over Inter in 2021 and had a contract until 2026.
The 49-year-old guided the club to one Serie A title — Inter's 20th — and two Italian Cups. He led the team to two Champions League finals in the past three seasons but lost both.
On track to repeat the treble heroics of 2010 just a few weeks ago, Inter ended the season trophyless after falling away in each competition.
In its statement, the club said Inzaghi's management was "characterised by great passion, accompanied by professionalism and dedication".
His trophies had "brought the club back to the top of Italian and European football", it said.
Marotta thanked him "for the work done, for the passion shown and also for the sincerity in today's discussion, which led to the common decision to separate our paths".
"Only when we have fought together to achieve success day by day, can we have a frank dialogue like the one that happened today," he said.
In a separate statement, Inzaghi thanked the players, managers and staff, but most of all the fans, adding: "I will never forget you." — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
11 hours ago
- Observer
Alcaraz returns to French Open final after ailing Musetti retires
PARIS: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached back-to-back French Open finals after Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while trailing 4-6 7-6(3) 6-0 2-0 on Friday. Alcaraz, who is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, will face either world number one Jannik Sinner or 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final. "It's never great to go through like this," Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti's achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year. "He's a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season... I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. "The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn't make the most of them," Alcaraz added. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100% in the final." Alcaraz said he would tune into the second semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier to study his potential opponents. "I'm not going to miss tonight's match, it's one of the best we can have right now, Sinner against Djokovic," he said. "I'm going to watch it and enjoy it and take tactics from the match." — Reuters
Observer
11 hours ago
- Observer
Carlo backs Raphinha to spark Brazil vs Paraguay
GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR: Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful Raphinha will help sharpen his team's attack when they face Paraguay at home, the Italian said after blaming poor pitch conditions for Thursday's goalless draw with Ecuador. Ancelotti's much-anticipated debut as Brazil manager ended in frustration, as his side laboured to a goalless draw against Sebastian Beccacece's Ecuador in Guayaquil, where they were second best for large stretches, despite their wealth of talent. "I think the pitch conditions here made it a bit tricky to play a more intricate game from the back. It was harder to control the ball," Ancelotti told reporters after the match. "That said, we had two very good chances, with Vinicius Jr, with Casemiro in the second half. Yes, we could've done better in attack, but you've also got to take into account the strength of the opponent. "Ecuador played a very good game, just as we did... The journeys here are really long, that takes its toll a bit." The Italian manager, appointed last month, is under considerable pressure as he faces the tough task of guiding the five-times world champions Brazil back to form. The top six teams qualify directly for next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Brazil remain in fourth place with 22 points in the continental standings. They face Paraguay on Tuesday in Sao Paulo, where Barcelona winger Raphinha is set to feature after missing the match in Ecuador. "There's room to improve, of course... I'm sure we'll improve in attack too, because today we were missing a very important player. That's Raphinha, who will be back, Ancelotti added. "I think the match against Paraguay will be different, because we will have more opportunity to control the game. We will need to play at a higher tempo, with more movement, more intensity. "I think the quality of the players is very high, so even if we don't have much time to work, we have still got that potential.". — Reuters
Observer
15 hours ago
- Observer
Chelsea complete signing of Delap from Ipswich
LONDON: Chelsea have signed striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town on a deal until until 2031 after triggering his £30million ($40.6 million) release clause. An agreement was reached between the clubs last week for the Englandunder-21 international, who becomes the Blues' first summer signing and can join immediately due to Fifa's 10-day June transfer window. That will enable him to take part in the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States, though if he travels with the team it will means he will miss the European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia. The 22-year-old said on the club's official website: "I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach. "It's going to be an incredible place for me to develop and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies." Chelsea reportedly fended off interest from Manchester United, with the lack of European football next season for the Old Trafford side understood to be a factor in the player's decision to pick west London. Enzo Maresca's side will play in the Champions League after finishing fourth in his first season in charge, the first time the club has qualified for Europe's top competition since 2022. Delap's signing means the pair will be reunited after working together with Manchester City's under-23 team while Maresca was in charge during the 2020/21 season, and latterly with the senior squad when the Italian was assistant to Pep Guardiola. Delap made only six first-team appearances for City, scoring once,before loan spells with Stoke, Preston and Hull. Despite Ipswich's relegation from the Premier League, which made his release clause active, he adapted quickly to the top flight by scoring 12 times in his first full season in the division — comfortably his best goal return — having spent most of his senior career in the Championship. Chelsea have been stretched thin in attack this season, with injuries to Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu leaving the team without a fit striker for periods of the campaign. Of those two, only Jackson has scored in the Premier League and the need for credible competition and support for the Senegal international has long been apparent. — PA Media/dpa
