Serie A CEO aims dig at Manchester City after Inter Milan’s Allianz Arena humiliation | OneFootball

Serie A chief Luigi De Siervo has rallied Inter Milan fans to hold their heads high over only being usurped by two state-owned clubs in Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in their UEFA Champions League final defeats of 2023 and 2025.

Inter were taken to the shreds by a Paris Saint-Germain at the peak of their powers – and yet ludicrously young – in a one-sided European final as any witnessed in the last 50 years as Luis Enrique’s men sealed a sensational 5-0 triumph over the meagre Serie A outfit. Simone Inzaghi has since left the club by mutual agreement as Inter step up their hunt for a new manager.

Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia tormented the Inter Milan backline in what were 90 minutes of football that reflected the stark gap between the two finalists, with Inter suffering their second UEFA Champions League final loss in three years.

Manchester City secured their premier Champions League title en route to a historic treble two years ago – like PSG did this season – and claimed a much narrower, 1-0 final victory over the Italian giants in Istanbul two years ago.

Rodri scored in the 68th minute to forever etch his name in Manchester City history and the rest has been history, with the 28-year-old Spain international since picking up the Ballon d’Or after leading his nation to European Championship glory last summer.

Speaking in reflection of the one-sided Champions League final affair that caused embarrassment in Milan, Serie A CEO took a classless dig at Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, citing Inter’s failures to the financial muscle possessed by the two clubs that have outdone them when it mattered most.

“I tell the many Inter fans who are disappointed that they must also reflect on the fact Inter lost two Finals only to two State-owned clubs,” said De Siervo, as quoted by Football Italia.

“The capacity for investment is limitless for some clubs, whereas that is not the case for others,” referencing the spending power of City and PSG, whom Inter failed to score a goal against collectively in 180 minutes of football over two Champions League finals.

“So we honour Inter for representing Italian football in the top European Final. With ideas, this country can continue to teach football lessons all over the world,” the Italian added.

Manchester City are no newcomer to these lazy digs since their Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008 and it would be beneficial to remember the club have broken the £100 million mark in the transfer market just the one time in their history – when they triggered Jack Grealish’s release clause at Aston Villa in 2021.

The 2023 treble winners have enjoyed lucrative sales particularly in the last two years, selling Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid for £82 million and Cole Palmer to Chelsea for £40 million – which will give them an additional muscle or two to flex in the ongoing and upcoming transfer windows ahead of the 2025-26 season.

City have agreed deals to sign AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri – both of whom will undergo medicals at the club’s facilities this weekend – and remain in advanced talks with Lyon to sign France international Rayan Cherki.