Inter Milan`s campaign in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has concluded. While elimination after a 2-0 defeat to Fluminense in the round of 16 is disappointing, this exit finally grants the Italian club a crucial break following their exceptionally long 2024-25 season. The final weeks of this challenging season saw numerous developments. It seems like a distant memory now, but the season did feature a thrilling 4-3 victory over Barcelona in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal. Since then, however, the Nerazzurri missed out on the 2024-25 Serie A title to Napoli (who secured their 4th Scudetto), suffered a significant 5-0 loss in the UEFA Champions League final against PSG, and experienced a managerial change. After four years at the helm, former coach Simone Inzaghi and the club mutually agreed to part ways, leading to the appointment of Cristian Chivu, a club legend and member of the 2010 Champions League-winning squad.
The decision to appoint Chivu was somewhat surprising and met with skepticism from many. However, Inter sought a young coach capable of developing their emerging talents, ideally someone with prior experience within the club`s youth setup. Chivu fit this description, having coached Inter`s youth teams from 2018 to 2024. His senior coaching experience was limited to just 13 Serie A matches with Parma, resulting in three wins, seven draws, and three defeats. Clearly, the Nerazzurri took a risk, but their priority was a manager focused on youth development, aligning with recent signings like Croatian midfielder Petar Sucic, Brazilian winger Luis Henrique, and French striker Ange-Yoan Bonny from Parma. The club also welcomed back players from loan spells, including promising Italian forward Francesco Pio Esposito, who previously impressed and scored the decisive goal against River Plate in the group stage of a tournament.
Player departures are also anticipated, with speculation increasingly linking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu with a move to Galatasaray. As Inter begins this new era, a period of rest is essential. The four matches played in the Club World Cup highlighted the team`s mental exhaustion. The setbacks in the Champions League and Serie A were major blows, and the Club World Cup performances underscored the need for time off to reset, integrate new ideas and players, and adapt to the new manager`s tactical approach.
While the Club World Cup provided initial opportunities for the team to work with the new coaching staff, captain Lautaro Martinez`s comments to DAZN after the defeat to Fluminense indicate that significant changes are required this summer. He stated, “The message must be clear: those who desire to stay should remain, and those who do not should leave. I aspire to compete for important objectives. This jersey holds great significance, and that must be understood.” These remarks seem directed not only externally but also internally within the dressing room itself.
The season concluded on a difficult note for both the players and the fans, and it remains uncertain how the events of the late 2024-25 season will impact the upcoming 2025-26 campaign. The squad needs rest now, but Lautaro`s words sound like a direct message to any teammates considering a change this summer after spending several years at the club. Those returning from the break must commit to working even harder to transform a disappointing season into a successful new chapter for Inter, as the recent struggles will be challenging for the entire club environment to process.
Dominic Ashworth