Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu is poised to sign a one-year contract extension with a significant pay rise following his Serie A title triumph this season, according to reports in Italy. The Romanian coach, who succeeded Simone Inzaghi last summer, will see his current deal, which runs until 2027, extended through 2028, with his salary increasing from 2.5 million euros to at least 4 million euros annually.
The new agreement represents a reward from the club's ownership, Oaktree Capital, for Chivu’s work in stabilising the team after a turbulent period and delivering the Scudetto. His immediate focus remains on completing a domestic double, with the Coppa Italia final scheduled for May 13th. Beyond that, the club has reportedly committed to backing him with a transfer budget of at least 40 million euros, plus funds generated from player sales, to reshape the squad for a more ambitious style of play.
In a recent statement that outlined his vision, Chivu emphasized a shift in football philosophy. "The times of the best defences winning championships are over," he said, advocating for a more modern, dynamic, and intense approach. He indicated that while Inter have made improvements this season, further evolution is necessary to compete at the highest level, particularly in the Champions League, where the team's campaign this year was considered a misstep.
This signals a clear directive for the upcoming transfer window. The sporting direction of Giuseppe Marotta, Piero Ausilio, and Dario Baccin will now work to acquire players who fit a profile described as more vertical, intense, and fast. While the attacking department, with its four forwards, is considered settled, other areas including goalkeeper, defence, the flanks, and midfield are expected to see significant changes.
Key defensive targets are reportedly centre-backs proficient in one-on-one situations in open space, with names like Strahinja Pavlovic of RB Salzburg and Castello Lukeba of Lyon mentioned as fitting this mould. In midfield, the search is for physical, tall, box-to-box players, with Roma's Manu Koné and Liverpool's Curtis Jones cited as primary objectives. Inter also seeks a dynamic winger to add unpredictability and dribbling, with a continued interest in Moussa Diaby of Al-Ittihad, while Real Madrid's Nico Paz remains a long-term dream signing.
The club faces decisions on several veteran players whose contracts expire this summer, including Yann Sommer, Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, which could free up further resources. The potential high-profile sale of a key asset like Alessandro Bastoni, linked with Barcelona, could also dramatically increase the available war chest, potentially exceeding 100 million euros. Chivu’s new deal and the promised investment mark the start of a new chapter aimed at making Inter more competitive on the European stage while defending their domestic crown.
