Al-Hilal CEO Confirms Simone Inzaghi Decided To Leave Inter Milan Before Champions League Final: “Didn’t Want To Sign Before Munich” | OneFootball

Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Caldaza shed new light on the hiring process of now-former Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi.

Speaking to BBC via FCInterNews, Caldaza dropped a bombshell when he revealed when the 49-year-old decided to leave the San Siro.

Though Simone Inzaghi did a fantastic job at Inter, the way he left the club somewhat tainted his image among the fans.

As if missing out on silverware wasn’t troubling enough, the Italian boss couldn’t have picked a worse moment to quit.

Indeed, rumors surrounding Inzaghi’s future had started flooding the news feed in the build-up to the Champions League final.

Needless to remind the Nerazzurri supporters, Paris Saint-Germain destroyed the Milan club 5-0 in the Munich showpiece.

And only a few days later, Inzaghi communicated his decision to sever ties with Inter after four years.

However, as it turns out, he made his choice sooner than everyone expected.

In fact, Al-Hilal had Inzaghi’s go-ahead even before the team’s trip to Germany.

Al-Hilal CEO Reveals the Exact Time Simone Inzaghi Decided to Leave Inter Milan

MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 31: Simone Inzaghi, Head Coach of FC Internazionale, reacts during the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Inter fans would’ve probably not paid attention to this had the Nerazzurri won the final.

Instead, PSG wiped the floor with the 20-time Italian champions in one of the most one-sided title-deciding games in history.

Therefore, Inzaghi’s decision to depart the club on the eve of the most significant game in recent memory has only added to the sting of Inter’s collapse.

Now, Caldaza revealed what really happened in the build-up to the Munich showdown.

“It might seem like a sudden outcome, but it’s actually the result of hard work,” he said.

“He was about to play an important match and asked us to hold off until after the Champions League final.

“He had already made his decision but didn’t want to sign before the final out of respect, he asked us to wait, which is absolutely fair.”

Then, he outlined the club’s expectations of Inzaghi.

“This season we finished second, a result that fell short of our ambitions.

“Quite simply, what we expect from the new manager is that he helps us win again and restore our place at the top of the league.”