'I’m fed up' - Inter head coach Cristian Chivu furious over transfer rumors amidst Barcelona's interest in Lautaro Martinez
Chivu loses patience with transfer speculation
Despite a convincing victory over Monza, Chivu was in no mood to celebrate during his post-match media duties. The Romanian tactician grew visibly irritated when asked about the club's remaining business in the transfer market. With the window still open, the focus remained fixed on potential departures rather than the three points secured on the pitch. The primary source of Chivu’s frustration stems from the persistent links between Lautaro and a potential €100 million move to Barcelona.
Chivu did not hold back when addressing the media in his post-match press conference, making it clear that his focus remains entirely on the players currently at his disposal. "I won't talk about it, I have a group that gives heart and players who raise the level," Chivu told DAZN. "The transfer market is what it is, I can't wait for it to be over: I'm fed up with answering questions about who leaves and who arrives. Talking about the transfer market makes me lose energy and clarity. The president was very clear today about the rumours regarding our players."
Marotta dismisses Lautaro exit talk
Inter President Beppe Marotta had already attempted to shut down the narrative before kick-off. Marotta insisted that the Barcelona interest isn’t even worth talking about, emphasizing that the Argentine forward remains the cornerstone of the project in Milan. Marotta was adamant that the reigning champions have no intention of ceding their best assets as they look to defend their domestic crown.
Marotta further elaborated on the club's stance, highlighting Lautaro's importance to the Nerazzurri identity. "First of all, Lautaro Martinez is our captain and represents the current history of Inter. So all I can say is that there simply aren’t the conditions in place for him to leave Inter," the President said. "We have absolutely no intention of letting him go, in any way, shape or form. It’s not even worth talking about."
Managing the World Cup returnees
While the transfer talk dominated the headlines, Chivu also had to manage the fitness of his key stars following the World Cup. Lautaro started the match despite being one of the last players to return to training, a decision Chivu defended as being based on human understanding rather than tactical necessity. "There are lots of situations that a coach must understand. We mustn’t forget his end to the World Cup. I try to see the human being first. I also try to help the players, even if Lautaro doesn’t need my help because he’s a part of Inter’s history and is a great guy," Chivu said.
In contrast to Martinez’s immediate involvement, French forward Marcus Thuram was left out of the matchday squad as he continues his tailored fitness program. Chivu explained that he is unwilling to take risks with players who are not at 100 percent physical capacity. "He continues to do his preparation, he had problems at the World Cup: he made himself available to the team, he is not in a condition to risk him for a few minutes. He's understood that, and we're working to get him back in shape as soon as possible," Chivu noted.
Analyzing the performance against Monza
Reflecting on the actual football played, Chivu acknowledged that the 4-1 scoreline perhaps flattered his side during the early exchanges. Monza proved to be a stubborn opponent, particularly in the first half where technical errors hampered Inter’s rhythm. "Monza put us in difficulty with pressure and second balls," Chivu explained. "We tried to respect the plan but there was rust and frenzy, not technical cleanliness. We found more serenity in the second half by taking the lead immediately and then we found the right plays again. We'll take what we did well tonight. We'll analyze what we need to improve and then focus on Cagliari."
