Chivu set to sign Inter Milan deal after agreement reached to replace Inzaghi
Inter Milan are set to appoint Cristian Chivu as their new head coach after reaching an agreement with the Parma manager on a two-year deal.
He joined the Serie A strugglers in February and helped steer them clear of relegation, lifting the side from the drop zone to a 16th-place finish.
Chivu’s swift impact at Parma has earned him a promotion back to San Siro, where he previously made 168 appearances as a player and spent seven years coaching in the academy.
His return comes after Inter parted ways with Simone Inzaghi, who resigned following their Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Inzaghi has since taken over at Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
Inter initially held talks with Como manager Cesc Fabregas, but negotiations broke down after resistance from the newly-promoted club. Como president Mirwan Suwarso made it clear he would not sanction the Spaniard’s departure, despite strong interest from the Nerazzurri.
Genoa coach Patrick Vieira was also considered, but Inter ultimately settled on Chivu as their preferred option.
Chivu met with Inter officials on Thursday to finalise the terms of his deal and is expected to officially sign on Friday. The contract will run until June 2027 and marks his first senior managerial role at a top club.
During his time as a player at Inter, Chivu won three Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies and the 2010 Champions League under Jose Mourinho. He joined the club’s coaching setup in 2018 and worked across several youth levels before leaving for Parma earlier this year.
His first task as head coach will be to prepare Inter for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. The club are banking on Chivu’s deep familiarity with the team and its structure to provide stability after a dramatic end to the 2024-25 season.
Inter view his appointment as a long-term investment in a manager who understands the club’s values and identity, and who has shown early promise in senior management.
