After Losing Simone Inzaghi, Inter Finally Get One Over Al-Hilal In The Transfer Market

Written By Onyeka Daniel

The transfer market may have been closed for former Serie A champions, Inter Milan, but there was still some cause for concern as the club came under siege from Saudi Pro League side, Al-Hilal once again after they already got Simone Inzaghi at the end of the 2024-25 season.

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While there was reports of a pact between Inter and their former coach to not poach any of their key players this summer, the executives were a different ball game and the oil-rich club tries to pick up two of Inter’s transfer figureheads but it looks like a failed attempt.

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This is after the club president, Beppe Marotta confirmed that Piero Ausilio and Dario Baccin will remain at the club as he shuts down the exit talks surrounding his two closest associates as Ausilio has emerged as a concrete target for Saudi Pro League powerhouse Al-Hilal.

Boosted by tgero successful capture of the former Lazio manager, they had hoped to lure Ausilio to Riyadh to continue their partnership and were reportedly hoping to use Inzaghi’s influence to convince Ausilio to sever ties with the Nerazzurri and join him at his new club.

However, the club’s long-serving executive has no intention of leaving San Siro despite receiving a tempting proposal as Al-Hilal’s €5m net per season contract offer has fallen on Ausilio’s deaf ears. Instead, the 53-year-old has pledged his future to Inter and will not follow in Inzaghi’s footsteps.

Furthermore, Dario Baccin has made a similar decision, even though he would’ve earned at least, €2m per year. “Ausilio has a contract until 2027 and received a substantial offer from Al-Hilal,” Beppe Marotta claimed.

“But he postponed his response until the end of the transfer window, before Inter’s management decided not to let him leave. He has held his role since 2014 and was instrumental in hiring Simone Inzaghi to lead the team during that period.” He further added.

Marotta and Ausilio have worked together for almost a decade now, building a new winning generation at Inter. Indeed, they’ve laid the groundwork for the club’s return to prominence in European football. In addition to winning two Serie A titles, they’ve built a team capable of achieving greatness on the continental stage.

Therefore, Inter have reached two Champions League finals in the last three years.Despite losing on both occasions, those achievements have restored Inter’s reputation among Europe’s elite and now, that partnership is set to continue with the new coach, Christian Chivu.

In a related development, Marotta has hailed Francesco Pio Esposito, saying that the youngster has the potential to become one of the best players in the world as the former Juventus director praised the young striker for his talent and maturity.

Pio Esposito, who is the youngest among the three brothers that were once with the club at some point in their career is a star in the making, with Inter expecting a lot from the prodigious striker. Indeed, after a superb breakout season at Spezia, the 20-year-old has returned to base.

For Chivu, he has insisted on keeping the teenage striker amid genuine interest from Napoli and Atalanta. Therefore, Inter turned down Napoli’s €40m bid in the summer and Atalanta’s offer to swap him for Ademola Lookman during the summer, instead opting to keep Esposito at San Siro.

Despite his limited game time in the first two Serie A matches, Esposito could have a significant role this season. Meanwhile, he made his senior debut for Italy last week, coming on as a late substitute in a 5-0 rout of Estonia and has been hailed as one to watch out for by Gennaro Gattuso for Italy.

“Francesco Pio Esposito is definitely a great talent, but to become a true champion, he still needs to grow,” Marotta said. “Most of the credit goes to him, although it must be combined with the work done by his family. They raised him and his brothers well, with his development at Inter, and his own abilities.”

“Today, we can consider him a talent, given his age. However, to become a champion, he needs to develop qualities such as humility, perseverance, and passion in everything he does. Pio has already reached a high level of maturity, but personally, I’ve seen many talents who remained just that because they didn’t combine technical skills with personal qualities.”

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“So far, his path has been positive, and we hope to continue supporting him in the best way possible.” He further added. With Inter set to take on Juventus this weekend, Esposito could be an unlikely hero, even if he will likely start on the bench, with Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez expected to lead the line.

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