Ex Inter Milan CEO Blasts Simone Inzaghi: “Betrayed Inter & Disappointed Me As A Man” | OneFootball

Ernesto Paolillo pulled no punches in his assessment of the sudden break-up between Inter Milan and Simone Inzaghi.

Speaking to TMW Radio via FCInterNews, the ex-Nerazzurri CEO blasted the 49-year-old for ‘betraying’ the club.

Though it’s been a fortnight since Simone Inzaghi departed the San Siro, his transfer to Al-Hilal remains a hot topic.

Indeed, the Saudi Pro League club’s CEO, Esteve Caldaza, sparked outrage across the Italian football community yesterday.

He admitted Al-Hilal had acquired Inzaghi’s go-ahead well before the Champions League final.

That formed the perfect backdrop for Paris Saint-Germain’s routine triumph in the Munich showpiece.

Furthermore, it was disrespectful toward Inter and their fans, especially considering Inzaghi’s pre-match silence.

His lack of transparency only deepened the sense of betrayal, raising doubts over his commitment during the club’s most critical hour.

Despite all the negatives, Inter must turn the page and focus on creating a healthy environment for the new boss, Cristian Chivu.

Ernesto Paolillo Slams Simone Inzaghi for Stabbing Inter Milan in the Back

Inter Milan’s Italian coach Simone Inzaghi looks on during the Italian Serie A football match Monza vs Inter on January 13, 2024 at the Brianteo stadium in Monza. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP) (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI/AFP via Getty Images)

“My opinion hasn’t changed since the first reports came out,” Paolillo was relentless. “Inzaghi betrayed the club, he betrayed Inter.

“He showed no ethical conduct because he got the timing completely wrong. He achieved a lot, but he also undid a lot.

“As a man, he really disappointed me. He took advantage of the situation to secure a massive salary, not to challenge himself as a coach.

“If that was his goal, he wouldn’t have gone to Saudi Arabia. He cashed in on the notoriety that four years at Inter gave him.”

Furthermore, he directly accused Inzaghi as an architect of Inter’s collapse in the Champions League final.

“He’s also to blame for the failures, not that there were many, but the ones that did happen,” he added.

“You don’t announce a decision like that just days before a final. A coach of his stature should know better.”

Jose Mourinho Comparison

GENOA, ITALY – OCTOBER 17: José Mourinho head coach of Roma greets the crowd prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between UC Sampdoria and AS Roma at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on October 17, 2022 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho also left Inter immediately after overseeing the Champions League final.

However, unlike Inzaghi, he left as a winner and a club legend.

“I don’t want to defend anyone because we don’t really know what happened behind the scenes,” Paolillo continued. “But clearly, there was a warning sign.

“With only one year left on his contract, we now know what happens on the market.

“The situation was underestimated – I don’t know how honest Inzaghi was with management.

“Maybe the club was caught off guard, and that’s not okay, but perhaps Inzaghi left the door open to staying.

“I don’t think he was entirely honest.

“He played his hand poorly. You don’t send a team into battle like he did.

“He could’ve used his decision to leave as motivation. It affected the final.

“And I believe he may have tried to convince some players to follow him.

“Even if the players didn’t know anything officially, they saw the news ten days before the final.

“They surely read and talked about it. True, some of them were playing their last big match due to age and shouldn’t have played that way.

“But Inzaghi had no tactical answers to PSG’s game.

“After 15 minutes, Inter’s tactical coach stood up to complain to Inzaghi, then sat back down. Something happened.”

The ‘Special One’ also refused to tell the club about Real Madrid’s approach.

However, there’s a feeling Mourinho handled the situation far better than Inzaghi.

“No, they didn’t know.

“But Mourinho used the final as a psychological weapon, pumping the players up for what he framed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“Mourinho had been absolutely clear with the club, but no one at the club said a word to the players.”