Inter Milan fans have been left absolutely stunned after leaked reports revealed the jaw-dropping salary that Cristian Chivu is set to earn at the club. The former Romanian international, who enjoyed a successful playing spell at Inter, has recently taken a new role at the club—but it’s the financial side of the deal that has left supporters in disbelief.
From the outside, Chivu’s return to Inter Milan was framed as a sentimental reunion. The former defender was a key figure during Inter’s golden era under José Mourinho, notably playing a vital role in the club’s historic treble-winning 2009-10 season. After retiring in 2014, Chivu gradually moved into coaching, working quietly with youth teams while obtaining his UEFA coaching badges. Now, having steadily worked his way up Inter’s coaching hierarchy, Chivu has been appointed to a more prominent position—rumored to be either a key assistant coach for the first team or even a transitionary figure bridging youth development and the senior squad.
But the moment fans found out about Chivu’s new salary, the admiration turned to confusion, then frustration. According to multiple Italian sources, Cristian Chivu will be earning a staggering €5 million per year—a figure that puts him among the highest-paid non-head coaches in Europe and far surpasses what most fans expected, even for a club of Inter’s stature.
A SHOCKING FIGURE THAT LEFT FANS REELING
When the figure leaked through a well-connected journalist on Sky Sport Italia, social media exploded with reactions from the Nerazzurri faithful. The overwhelming sentiment was one of disbelief.
“€5 million a year for someone who’s never managed a senior side at the top level? That’s absolutely insane!” tweeted one furious supporter. Another fan added, “I love Chivu, he’s a club legend—but this wage packet is offensive to our financial situation.”
It’s worth noting that Inter Milan are still recovering from financial turbulence post-pandemic, with the club’s owners, Suning Holdings Group, operating under strict financial constraints. While the club has maintained competitiveness on the field—reaching multiple Champions League knockout stages and winning domestic trophies—off the field, Inter have often had to sell players, restructure wages, and be cautious in the transfer market.
For many fans, Chivu’s salary flies in the face of that narrative. They argue that such spending is reckless, particularly when it doesn’t directly improve the team on the pitch.
IS CHIVU WORTH THE MONEY?
The backlash is not necessarily against Chivu the person, but rather the idea of allocating such a large salary to someone with limited senior coaching experience.
Chivu has done commendable work with Inter’s youth teams. Under his guidance, the Primavera side has shown consistency, flair, and tactical discipline. Several young players—such as Valentin Carboni and Mattia Zanotti—owe much of their development to Chivu’s mentorship. However, as critics point out, making the jump from youth football to a high-paying senior role is a huge leap, especially without proof of success at a senior level.
Football financial analyst Antonio Gallo commented:
“This isn’t about whether Chivu is a good coach. It’s about resource allocation. If Inter are crying poor in transfer negotiations, how can they justify giving €5 million to a staff member whose on-field contribution, while promising, remains speculative?”
Others have drawn comparisons to assistant coaches or youth development figures at other top European clubs, many of whom earn significantly less. At Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, for instance, youth coaches typically earn under €1 million annually—even those with extensive international experience.
INTERNAL STRUGGLES WITHIN THE CLUB?
Some reports suggest that Chivu’s new salary package is not merely about his duties on the training pitch. A source within the club, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that Chivu is being groomed as a long-term successor to the first team manager.
With Simone Inzaghi’s position under increased scrutiny following another disappointing European campaign, Chivu is reportedly seen by some directors as the ideal candidate to take over in the next 12–18 months. His familiarity with the club, understanding of youth development, and “Inter DNA” are all qualities the club hierarchy values.
If Chivu is indeed being positioned as the future head coach, his salary could be seen as a pre-emptive move to secure his loyalty amid interest from other clubs, including several from the English Championship and Ligue 1. But fans argue that Inter should be more transparent if this is the case.
SOCIAL MEDIA OUTRAGE AND FAN GROUP STATEMENTS
Several Inter ultra groups have released statements condemning the decision. One of the most prominent, Curva Nord Milano, issued a harsh rebuke of the club’s leadership:
“We will always respect Cristian Chivu as a treble winner and Interista. But let it be clear—paying €5 million per year to someone with no senior coaching CV is a betrayal of financial responsibility. The same club that sold our best players due to wage issues is now throwing money at vanity projects.”
Other fans expressed disappointment more than anger. “We expected Chivu to grow into a bigger role, and we wanted to see him succeed,” wrote one user on an Inter fan forum. “But not like this. Not at this cost.”
CHIVU RESPONDS — “I’M HERE TO GIVE EVERYTHING BACK TO INTER”
Amidst the growing backlash, Cristian Chivu broke his silence in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. Clearly aware of the storm brewing around his salary, Chivu said:
“I understand the concerns. I really do. But I didn’t negotiate for money—I negotiated for responsibility. What matters to me is not the salary but the opportunity to give back to the club that gave me everything. My job is to develop the future of Inter, whether that’s in the academy or the first team. And I will give everything to prove myself worthy of this role.”
While his words struck a chord with some fans, others remained unmoved. The figure still looms large, and for a fan base that has grown increasingly skeptical of the club’s ownership and financial decisions, it will take more than good intentions to win them over.
THE BIGGER QUESTION: INTER’S PRIORITIES
This episode has once again raised questions about Inter Milan’s priorities. Are they building for the future, or are they lost in nostalgia? Is this a forward-thinking move to secure a managerial gem early, or an ill-timed gamble in the middle of a financial crunch?
There is also the issue of optics. Even if the club can justify the salary internally, the way the information leaked has damaged public perception. The lack of official communication only deepens the frustration. Inter fans have seen beloved stars like André Onana and Marcelo Brozović sold under the guise of financial prudence. Now, they’re watching a relatively inexperienced coach receive a blockbuster salary behind closed doors.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Cristian Chivu remains a revered figure in Inter Milan history, and his passion for the club is unquestionable. However, the revelation of his eye-watering €5 million salary has opened a can of worms for the club’s leadership. The disconnect between financial hardship and high salaries for insiders has drawn sharp criticism, and it puts extra pressure on Chivu to deliver—whether that’s by nurturing world-class talent or eventually taking the managerial reins.
For now, the ball is in Inter’s court. Either Chivu proves himself worth every cent, or this will be remembered as yet another example of misguided loyalty costing a great club dearly.
