Ausilio: ‘Proud of Onana sale, Kvaratskhelia regret and Jashari error’ | OneFootball

Inter’s Piero Ausilio reveals the transfers he’s most proud of, including Andre Onana to Manchester United, his Khvicha Kvaratskhelia regrets, and why he was ‘told off’ for missing Milan’s Ardon Jashari.

His career had started out as that of a player, until a devastating knee injury in an accidental collision with Carlo Cudicini changed his path forever.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, he insists that ultimately was for the greater good, as he has had far more success in this role than he would’ve done as a wing-back.

Now 50, he has been at Inter since 1998 in various roles, including over a decade as director of sport.

Ausilio’s greatest hits and misses at Inter

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 16: Andre Onana of FC Internazionale celebrates after Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale scores the team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 16, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

“The transfers I am proudest of are Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic, who we chose when Marco Branca was working with us,” Ausilio told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Plus Onana, who we signed for free and then sold for €55m a year later. Of course, then Lautaro Martinez, Yann Bisseck, Marcus Thuram…”

There were also some regrets along the way for Ausilio, including a player who went on to make his mark at Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain.

“Kvaratskhelia was offered around to many big clubs in Italy, so it wasn’t just my mistake. The problem was we played with a 3-5-2 system and he was suited to 4-3-3, so that’s why we didn’t go for it. I am accustomed to building a team respecting the ideas of the coach.”

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 29: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium on April 29, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Ausilio has a more recent regret too that happened only days ago, as it seems the rumours of Inter interest in Club Brugge midfielder before he came to rivals Milan had some foundation in truth.

“My son Niccolò studies players, watches a thousand matches, and when Jashari signed for Milan, he told me off. He had advised me to get him when he was still at Luzern and said we let him get away, but we can’t buy every talented player who is out there.”

VERONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: Piero Ausilio of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between Verona and FC Internazionale at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on November 23, 2024 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Being a director of sport means evaluating players not just for what they do on the pitch, but also off it, and that can cause some problems.

“In a January transfer window, I was selling a player abroad and it would put us in a financially secure position, because we were at the time struggling to pay the wages on time,” revealed Ausilio.

“We were about to sign the contracts when I received a call from a very famous divorce lawyer. He warned we couldn’t sell, because the player’s wife was filing for divorce and had asked for his passport to be confiscated.

“I was desperate, how could we solve this? I locked them in a room until they sorted it all out, both the divorce agreement and the sale of the player. I don’t know if it was the most difficult transfer negotiation I ever had, but it was perhaps the most important.”