Early UCL Exit Endangers Future of Some Inter Pillars

Inter Milan's early exit from the UEFA Champions League will have a significant negative financial impact, reducing their earnings by approximately €60 million compared to the 2025/2026 season. This shortfall could force the club to make surprising player sales, according to a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The club's owners, Oaktree, now face a strategic decision between prioritizing profitability and maintaining competitiveness. To generate more revenue or fund a major squad overhaul, Inter would likely need to conduct significant player sales, as the current financial model may only allow the club to break even.

In terms of squad changes, Inter are expected to part ways with several veterans whose contracts are expiring: Yann Sommer, Francesco Acerbi, Stefan De Vrij, Matteo Darmian, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The future of Denzel Dumfries is also uncertain due to a €25 million release clause in his contract.

The most critical decisions involve key players Hakan Calhanoglu and Marcus Thuram. Galatasaray is actively pursuing Calhanoglu, who is entering the final year of his contract, and Inter are not currently planning to offer him a renewal, though he could potentially stay until 2027. Meanwhile, the performances of Thuram and Nicolò Barella have not matched previous seasons, making them less "untouchable" and potential candidates for a major sale that could solve multiple financial and squad issues at once.

The analysis concludes that Inter's true level lies somewhere between this season's disappointing Champions League exit and last season's overachieving run. The early elimination has broken a positive cycle that previously allowed the club to avoid major sacrifices. While strategic directives come from the ownership, the report warns against underestimating the value of squad continuity and the risks associated with a major overhaul.

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