Inter Milan are set to appoint Cristian Chivu as their manager after reaching an agreement with him 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 move back to the 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 joined Al-Hilal.
Inter initially held talks with Como manager Cesc Fabregas, but negotiations broke down. Como president Mirwan Suwarso made it clear he would not sanction the Spaniard’s departure.
Genoa boss 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.
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 set-up in 2018 and worked across several youth levels before leaving for Parma earlier this year.
His first task will be to prepare Inter for the upcoming Club World Cup. The club are banking on Chivu’s deep familiarity with the team to provide stability after a dramatic end to the 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.
