Piero Ausilio and Inter Milan agreed to end his contract on 2 September 2026, terminating a deal that ran until June 2027.
Talks broke down after owner Oaktree Capital proposed a one-year extension to 2028 with a 100,000 euro salary increase on his 1.3 million euro net salary, while Ausilio sought a three-year deal.
As sporting director since 2014, Ausilio oversaw nine trophies, including three Serie A titles under head coaches Antonio Conte, Simone Inzaghi, and Cristian Chivu.
Inter promoted Dario Baccin to Chief Sport Officer following his work overseeing the technical department and establishing the Inter Under-23 project.
Inter Milan and sporting director Piero Ausilio agreed on 2 September 2026 to dissolve his contract by mutual consent with immediate effect. The decision concludes Ausilio's 28-year tenure inside the club, ending an agreement that had been scheduled to run until June 2027. Club president and chief executive Giuseppe Marotta formally announced the departure, thanking Ausilio for his contributions across multiple title campaigns.
“I wish to thank Piero on behalf of the entire Club, the Ownership, and every single employee of the great Nerazzurri family. Moments of joy, victories, intense work, and great passion unite me with him.”
In a farewell letter published on the club's official website, Ausilio expressed his gratitude to supporters, club executives, coaches, and players.
“After 28 unforgettable years, the most difficult moment has arrived: saying goodbye to what for me was never just a team, but a second skin. In nearly three decades I gave Inter every single second of my life, every energy, every heartbeat.”
The separation materialized following the closure of the summer transfer window due to stalled contract extension discussions. Ausilio, who was under contract until 2027 on a net annual salary of 1.3 million euros plus bonuses, had requested a three-year extension. Club owner Oaktree Capital proposed a single-year extension through 2028 to align his contract duration with the rest of the technical staff, accompanied by a salary increase of 100,000 euros. Ausilio declined the proposal, leading the parties to negotiate an immediate mutual termination rather than continuing through the end of the season.
Ausilio first arrived at Inter in 1997 under president Massimo Moratti on an initial six-month contract as youth sector secretary. He later served as organizational manager and youth academy director, interspersed with an administrative role at Spezia between 2003 and 2005. He joined the first-team staff in December 2010 alongside Marco Branca before earning promotion to sporting director and technical area coordinator in February 2014. Ausilio navigated four distinct ownership regimes: Massimo Moratti, Erick Thohir, Suning under Steven Zhang, and Oaktree Capital.
During his 12 years directing the sporting sector, Inter secured nine domestic trophies under head coaches Antonio Conte, Simone Inzaghi, and Cristian Chivu. The club won three Serie A championships, three Coppa Italia titles, and three Supercoppa Italiana trophies, while reaching three European finals, including two UEFA Champions League finals and one UEFA Europa League final. Ausilio's market operations included the acquisitions of Lautaro Martínez, Nicolò Barella, and Alessandro Bastoni, along with free transfers for Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Marcus Thuram, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Francesco Acerbi.
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Following Ausilio's departure, Inter appointed Dario Baccin to the position of Chief Sport Officer. Baccin, who has worked inside the club's technical department and alongside the first team, previously coordinated the creation of the Inter Under-23 project to support sustainable player development. Marotta stated that Baccin's promotion ensures continuity within the sporting management while preparing the squad for the current season alongside head coach Cristian Chivu.
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Inter Milan have agreed to a mutual termination of sporting director Piero Ausilio's contract after 28 years at the club, appointing Dario Baccin as Chief Sport Officer.
AI text based on reports by il Giornale.it, Mediafax.ro, ANSA.it and other publishers. Published .