Inter Milan's Celebration: Trio of Executives Discuss Key Issues - Selling Players, Embracing Criticism, and the Joy of Recalling Youth Talents

Inter Milan experienced a grand and spectacular championship celebration at Piazza del Duomo. Despite some unexpected troubles, such as the investigation into Denzel Dumfries' actions which might lead to a heavy fine, the overall atmosphere was filled with joy. During the celebration night, Inter's three executives—Alessandro Antonello, Giuseppe Marotta, and Piero Ausilio—each gave interviews addressing some crucial issues.

Alessandro Antonello reassured fans that he is not worried about the club's ownership transition post-May 20th, stating that Inter's future is solid. Most importantly, he emphasized the critical importance of a modern stadium for Milan, saying, "Milan deserves this. Inter is currently awaiting the evaluation for the redevelopment of the San Siro, while the alternative plan in the Rozzano area is well within our grasp."

Inter Milan currently has two dreams that require substantial investment to realize: establishing a second team and building a new stadium. Both are crucial to the club's long-term strategy. From Steven Zhang's previous live stream statements, it's clear that Inter's current focus is on the stadium project, while the second team will be considered later. "Most major European clubs own their stadiums, which greatly helps improve their teams," confirmed Antonello, noting that there is internal consensus within Inter on this issue: "The new stadium is an absolute priority."

Giuseppe Marotta also discussed various topics, including contract renewals and shifting more focus to the Champions League next year while simultaneously hoping for the 21st Serie A title. Marotta stressed that Inter is not afraid of selling players or facing external criticism. "We need a highly creative transfer market. We do not have the desire to sell key players, but we have demonstrated over the years that we have the courage to make changes," Marotta stated. "Players like Achraf Hakimi, Romelu Lukaku, and André Onana have left. We changed 12 players last August, which is no small number. This means we must have the courage to change and not fear criticism. We are strong, regardless of who we buy or sell."

This season alone, Marotta has reiterated such statements more than five times, with increasing firmness. The fact that Inter's summer transfer window won't start with a significant deficit is positive, but a zero budget is still quite challenging. Therefore, high-value offers should be seen as "opportunities" rather than "disasters" for Inter. Earlier in the season, Marotta simply asked fans to understand the club and not react negatively to sales. However, after securing the second star, his tone changed, indicating that if good offers come in, Inter will evaluate them regardless of fan understanding or media criticism. The club has the confidence and courage to remain strong no matter who leaves. With the championship-winning performance of 12 changes and 12 new players, it's likely that future similar situations will see fewer fans protesting.

Piero Ausilio, Inter's chief transfer operative, also touched on various topics. When asked about media-hyped players like Joshua Zirkzee, he said, "I can only say he's a good player, nothing more." Regarding backup goalkeeper Filippo Bentivoglio, he stated that this, like Emil Audero, is just one of many options. Ausilio emphasized the importance of not forgetting the youth players who might be recalled: "Through our scouts and Dario Baccin's hard work, we are well aware of all our loaned players in Italy and Europe. For example, Franco Carboni, I also want to mention Sebastiano Esposito, and the possibility of bringing back Nicolo Armini, who is doing well in Bologna. We certainly haven't forgotten them. Bringing back one of them, like Federico Dimarco after years on loan, would bring great joy and satisfaction."

Ausilio's emphasis on recalling youth talents highlights a key point: you can't assess next season's issues with the mindset of 3-5 years ago. The external environment has changed, and adaptation is necessary. The biggest change for next season is the expansion of the Champions League, increasing the total number of matches. This heightens the risk of squad depletion and a shortage of available players. Consequently, the Champions League squad list requires more "effective registrations." The importance of "homegrown players" becomes evident. The Champions League has a total number limit and requires a certain number of "homegrown" players.

Over the years, even including second and third-choice goalkeepers, Inter often fell short of meeting the homegrown player quota. This led to two outcomes: they had to pull players from the youth ranks who were not ready for first-team action, effectively reducing the squad size to 22-23 "effectively registered" players compared to other teams' 25. Additionally, valuable first-team players often couldn't make it to the Champions League squad list, as was the case with Stefano Sensi this season.

How can Inter avoid such predicaments next season? Recalling youth players seems like a viable solution. With the Champions League expanding and more matches on the horizon, this needs serious evaluation.

During the celebration, Antonello, Marotta, and Ausilio each offered insights into Inter's strategy and future plans, addressing the importance of a new stadium, the courage to sell players and embrace criticism, and the potential joy and strategic benefits of recalling youth talents. Their collective vision underscores Inter's commitment to adapting and thriving in an ever-changing football landscape.