For the former Nerazzurri coach, 1-1 on his debut: "I pay a price, but it's nothing compared to the good I received at Inter". Inzaghi stops Real: "Al-Hilal, the best"

The concern seems to be more about making a good impression on the new fans, rather than avoiding creating bad feelings among the old ones. Simone Inzaghi approaches the Club World Cup in this way, a few hours before the debut with Al-Hilal against Real Madrid (1-1 with goals from Gonzalo Garcia, Ruben Neves on a penalty and a penalty saved by Bounou from Valverde in the final). "I left my comfort zone at Inter, there was no other team I would have wanted to coach if not Al-Hilal", he says, painting the rich environment in which he has immersed himself as if it were the noble reality that it is not yet, despite some big names in the squad. This is how the social reaction is unleashed, already in turmoil after the admission of Esteve Calzada, CEO of the club, on the timing of the agreement prior to the Champions League final. A bill that is presented to Inzaghi in the press room. "I listened to everything, as often happened in the four years at Inter. If this was the price to pay, I'll pay it willingly. It's nothing compared to the good I received from the entire Inter world - says the coach - I will still miss him, even the most unjust accusations made in four years, but I had a really good time, I gave my all. The club and management, for the good of Inter, I think they were also convinced that the right thing to do was for our paths, with so much pain on everyone's part, to separate". But the bitterness from the upper echelons of the Nerazzurri filters through, even if Marotta glosses over it and looks ahead. In the middle of a Club World Cup, making the Inzaghi issue current and how the management reacted late to the unfolding of events is not convenient for anyone. MT