Barcelona went down bravely and stayed true to itself. They played their style of football, were the better team, scored six goals across two matches, but against this Inter, it wasn’t enough. There’s nothing to criticize about the Catalans. They stuck to their philosophy, attacked, and never calculated. Of the 17 players who played for Barça last night, 11 are products of its footballing philosophy. Some of them took their first steps in football there (Yamal), some grew up there (Cubarsí, Gavi, Fermín Lopez, Fort), some arrived as very young professionals and were educated and shaped in the style of La Masia (Pedri, Marc Guiu, Araujo, Pau Víctor), and others returned home as fully developed players to the place where they first started (Olmo and García). Due to injuries, others were missing (Bernal, Casado, and Balde).Mamma mia! Inter knock down Barca in one of the greatest-ever spectaclesBarcelona didn’t win the Champions League this season, but they regained themselves—their DNA—and reestablished a solid foundation that will last for years. In the coming seasons, they’ll be in a position to field an entire starting eleven made up of their own academy players. All of this, and the season as a whole, is a huge positive for Barca and an achievement worthy of admiration. But what stood on the other side is also worthy of every bit of respect: a completely different philosophy, but equally hard work, a vision to be admired, and the moves of chess grandmasters. Big Italian clubs haven’t paid much attention to their own academies in recent years. The best young talents are found at Atalanta, Brescia, Empoli… Inter later buys them as semi-finished or fully developed players. And in that regard, Inter is a university—even for Barcelona. At the head sits the sharp-minded ‘professor‘ Giuseppe Marotta, and behind it all is the brilliant mind of Piero Ausilio. The general and sporting directors of Inter are probably the most powerful management duo in European football, especially considering the budget they work with and the constant financial clouds looming over Inter in recent years.Inter President Beppe Marotta said the showdown with Barcelona is ‘between two teams who frankly deserve to be in the Champions League Final,’ so this is seen as an early battle for the trophy.#InterBarcelona #InterBarça #INTFCB #INTBAR #UCL pic.twitter.com/AvrB3domt5— Football Italia (@footballitalia) May 6, 2025 Let’s not forget, Marotta also built that Sampdoria team that came close to the Champions League. He lifted Juventus to imperial heights alongside Conte and Allegri, winning nine straight Scudetti and reaching two Champions League finals. He also mentored Fabio Paratici into a top sporting executive, before moving to Inter—and the results speak for themselves. Inter is now to Juventus what Juventus once was to Inter: powerful and untouchable. Even though Inter might be seen in European circles as outdated or a bit decadent, Marotta’s Inter is now playing its second Champions League final in three years. That’s a fact. At Inter, Marotta found a club loyalist in Piero Ausilio, who has been there for over 25 years. And he helped refine him. Marotta’s vast experience and market knowledge were valuable to a sporting director who deeply understands football but lacked the charisma, leadership, and negotiating prowess for tough situations. Now, Marotta handles the finances while Ausilio deals with football—and they work perfectly together. The general director sets the budget, the sporting director delivers several solutions, and together they choose the best. Occasionally, they listen to coach Simone Inzaghi—sometimes that works (Acerbi), and sometimes not (Tucu Correa).UCL LIVE BLOG: Inter win the wildest semi-final! Frattesi is the extra-time hero!Every season, Marotta and Ausilio must make more money than they spend—and they manage to do it. And despite that, they’re achieving results like these. Barcelona’s philosophy is different—they’ve returned to their roots and to La Masia—but they still need to buy players. Three of the four Barça starting attackers last night (Raphinha, Olmo, and Ferran Torres) cost 164 million euros in total—almost as much as Inter’s entire team. Inter’s 11 starters last night cost 140 million. Add six more from the bench, and the total is 186 million. Inter, with a squad costing under 200 million, eliminated this Barcelona. Inter’s gross wage bill this season is 143.02 million euros, compared to Barcelona’s 201.02 million. That’s a huge difference. Inter doesn’t have the spending power of Spanish, Premier League giants, Bayern, or PSG, but thanks to smart transfer policies, they manage to compete. That’s how this “Spartan” team was built—one that will reach its peak in the Champions League final. It will also mark the end of a cycle, as there are early reports that Inter won’t be signing players over 30 anymore—except in special cases. In recent years, Inter had to sell some players for financial reasons—big names like Icardi, Lukaku, Hakimi, and Onana. Most of those sales turned out to be well-timed, as those players were at their market peaks (except Hakimi). But when the chance came to sell Barella or Bastoni, Marotta decided they were untouchable.You’re leaving the stadium earlier? You don’t deserve to returnA particularly interesting part of their transfer strategy is making money from loaned-out players—not good enough for key roles, but whose value increased through loans, filling parts of the budget. Inter earned a clean 40 million from academy players like Andrea Pinamonti, Valentin Carboni, and Giovanni Fabian—giving them financial breathing room to make serious investments. This is clearly a long-term project—evidenced by the fact that not a single starter against Barcelona was a summer signing. In fact, 16 of the 17 players used in the second leg came after Marotta took over in 2017. Each was brought in through different strategies—some as unknowns, some as top talents, some as key players, and some as free agents.How was this Inter built?Yann Sommer (Bayern, 6.9 million)Inter couldn’t miss the chance to make a clean 50 million profit on Andre Onana in a single year. That meant they had to quickly find a new goalkeeper, and they failed to get Ukrainian Trubin—but they did land Swiss veteran Yann Sommer. If he was good enough as a stopgap for Bayern when Neuer was injured, why wouldn’t he be good enough for Inter? They paid 6 million initially, and another 900,000 in bonuses—and based on his performance last night, he’s paid back every cent.They sold Onana for €51,4m and got Sommer for €6,8m. Not too bad, huh…Jan Orel Bisseck (Aarhus, 7,200,000)One of the biggest hits from Piero Ausilio’s scouting network. Jan Orel Bisseck wasn’t exactly an unknown — he became the youngest German in Bundesliga history at the age of 16 — but his career didn’t develop as promised, and he faced major injury issues at a young age. Koln sent him on loans to Kiel, Roda, Guimaraes, and finally Danish side Aarhus, which seemed like a freefall. However, his performances in Denmark convinced Ausilio that he was worth investing a decent amount of money in — just over 7 million — and it turned out to be a great decision.Francesco Acerbi (Lazio, 4,000,000)One of the heroes in eliminating Barcelona, Acerbi arrived at Inter as a personal request from Simone Inzaghi. Inzaghi had coached him for three years at Lazio and knew exactly what to expect. That June, Inter was looking for an experienced center-back who could come off the bench or rest the likes of Škriniar, Bastoni, and de Vrij. Acerbi still had three years on his Lazio contract, but Maurizio Sarri told him rather harshly that he didn’t rate him and that he was only suited for a three-man defense, not a back four. Sarri wasn’t wrong, but that was exactly what Inzaghi needed. He convinced the club directors to bring the 34-year-old on loan, and Acerbi fit in perfectly, prompting Inter to buy him a year later for 4 million. With his goal last night, he fully justified that investment — though he arguably did so even before.From depths of hell to UCL final: before Barca, Inter’s hero Acerbi topped cancer, depression, alcoholism…Alessandro Bastoni (Atalanta, 31,100,000)The only player already at the club when Marotta arrived was the talented center-back that Inter bought from Atalanta at age 17 for over 30 million. He had played only three Serie A matches, but Ausilio and his scouts assessed that he was a diamond in the rough — a potential heir to the likes of Maldini, Nesta, and Cannavaro. And they weren’t far off. It’s a matter of opinion, but it’s not inaccurate to say Bastoni is currently the best center-back in the world. That potential was evident even back then, justifying the price tag. Inter let him gain experience on loan at Parma for one season, and then Antonio Conte launched him as a key pillar of Inter’s defense. Today, he is arguably Inter’s most important player.Bastoni in a duel with Barca’s Lamine Yamal last night (©Image Photo Agency/Getty Images/Gallo Images)Denzel Dumfries (PSV Eindhoven, 14,200,000)When financial issues forced Inter to sell Achraf Hakimi, the club searched for a wing-back with similar characteristics — but four to five times cheaper. Dumfries exploded during that summer’s European Championship and had been tracked by Milan for a while. Marotta and Ausilio decided that the 25-year-old PSV captain was mature enough to replace Hakimi. Without bonuses, he cost only 12.5 million — a very profitable investment for Inter. Chelsea, Bayern, and Manchester United were later interested in signing him, but Inter decided he wasn’t for sale. Dumfries has become an irreplaceable cog in Inzaghi’s system, and his two goals and three assists against Barcelona were worth every penny.Federico Dimarco (homegrown, 1,000,000)Dimarco is an Inter academy product who took the long road to the first team. He was loaned out multiple times and even sold to Swiss side Sion for 4 million, but Inter included a buy-back clause for 5 million — a testament to how seriously they took every deal, even involving “small” players. Unlike Roma’s mistake with Calafiori, Inter played it smart. A loan at Parma and a screamer against Inter were his springboard to return to San Siro. That June, Conte left and Inzaghi came in, wanting fresher legs on the left instead of Ivan Perišić and the aging Kolarov. In the end, Dimarco cost Inter only one million. Today, he’s one of the best left wing-backs in the world.Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Federico Dimarco (©Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Roma, free transfer)The silent soldier of Inzaghi’s “Spartan” Inter. Many rushed to write him off, calling him a spent force, but he has proven irreplaceable. He can’t maintain top pace for 90 or 120 minutes, but he is invaluable in both attack and defense. He came close to scoring in both legs against Barcelona and worked tirelessly last night to help contain the rampant Lamine Yamal. Mkhitaryan has had his ups and downs in his career, but one should always remember Mats Hummels’ quote that Henrikh is one of the best players he’s ever played with. He’s no longer the attacking Mkhitaryan from Dortmund who failed at Manchester United and Arsenal, but Italy breathed new life into his career. He returned to form at Roma, and then Inter picked him up as a free agent — a typical Marotta-style move. Inzaghi reinvented him as a deep-lying midfielder, especially when many feared how Inter would replace Brozović.Hakan Calhanoglu (Milan, free transfer)A transfer that shook Italian football and turned out to be another masterstroke from the “King of Free Transfers.” Let’s recall — Marotta also brought in Pirlo, Pogba, Khedira, Coman, Alves, Evra, Emre Can, and Llorente on free transfers to Juventus. He’s a master at it. Calhanoglu was a failed No. 10 at Milan but became one of the best deep-lying playmakers in the world at Inter. Inzaghi completely changed his career by shifting his position. A masterpiece of Marotta’s policy and synergy between management and coach.Hakan Çalhanoğlu doesn’t miss penalties often 🎯 pic.twitter.com/v8XSCpInFq— OneFootball (@OneFootball) May 6, 2025 Nicolo Barella (Cagliari, 44,500,000)Inter rarely spends that kind of money, but when a generational talent like Barella or Bastoni comes along, they don’t hesitate. From the moment he emerged at Cagliari, Barella was labeled as one of Italy’s brightest talents. Every big club wanted him, but Inter had the edge since Barella had been a lifelong fan. That June. Inter was in financial trouble, but Conte was pushing hard for Barella. Marotta pulled off some financial gymnastics, securing a loan with an eventual payout of nearly 45 million. The result: the heart and soul of the team. Barella has played nearly 300 matches for Inter in six seasons and, along with Bastoni, is the backbone of the squad. He could’ve been sold for a massive fee, but Barella is priceless.Marcus Thuram (Borussia Mönchengladbach, free transfer)Another masterpiece in signing free agents. Milan worked for months to sign Marcus Thuram and were close to a deal — until Marotta swooped in and stole him from under their noses. He offered a slightly higher salary, but his negotiating skills clearly outmatched Milan’s inexperienced approach. What did Inter get in Thuram? One of the best strikers in the world in terms of holding up play and back-to-goal football. The Frenchman works tirelessly for the team, pairs perfectly with Lautaro, and only needs to improve his finishing.Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram celebrating the Argentinian’s goal (©Alex Grimm/Getty Images)Lautaro Martínez (Racing, 25,000,000)One of the first transfers Marotta worked on upon arriving at Inter was Lautaro Martínez. The football world was already buzzing about a new Sergio Aguero coming out of Racing — a top-class striker in the making. Piero Ausilio had been working on the deal for months, but it seemed Lautaro was already an Atletico Madrid player, with everything agreed upon and just the signature pending. Then Ausilio flew to Argentina, and with the help of Javier Zanetti and Diego Milito, convinced Lautaro to join Inter instead. The rest is history. Lautaro is now one of the most complete forwards in the game, consistently delivering in big matches — through goals, assists, or decisive actions.Carlos Augusto (Monza, 13,250,000)After the failed signing of Valentino Lazaro and the departure of utility man Danilo D’Ambrosio, Inter needed a backup for Dimarco — but one with better defensive traits. They found him in Monza’s standout Carlos Augusto. The Brazilian can play both as a full-back and center-back. His crosses led to goals in Munich, and last night he came in to help shut down Lamine Yamal, as Dimarco was struggling. Not a costly signing, and today he’s worth at least double.Mehdi Taremi (Porto, free transfer)The Iranian had starred for Porto for years and waited for his contract to expire. He became a target for many wealthier clubs, with Milan leading the race for months. They had a deal with Taremi ready the day before the transfer window closed, but it all fell apart on deadline day. Inter swooped in and stole him at the last moment, forcing Milan to sign Luka Jović as a plan B. Taremi has struggled to adapt at Inter and has faced criticism, but last night he arguably played his best game in a Nerazzurri shirt and was instrumental in the winning goal.##NAJAVA_MECA_8910250##Stefan de Vrij (Lazio, free transfer)Another typical Marotta-style steal. De Vrij was the rock of Lazio’s defense but didn’t want to renew his contract. Marotta spotted the opportunity and signed one of Europe’s most wanted free agents. This is his seventh season at Inter. Though he gets fewer minutes this year, Inzaghi can always rely on him in the center-back rotation.Piotr Zielinski (Napoli, free transfer)For years, the Polish midfielder was the heartbeat of Napoli’s midfield but somehow always underappreciated. In the end, Napoli offered him a contract extension that was practically insulting. Marotta never misses such opportunities — he strengthens Inter while weakening a rival. Zielinski is a dependable, experienced, and versatile player who mostly comes off the bench this season.Matteo Darmian (Parma, 3,300,000)A Milan academy product who reached his peak years at Inter. He’s older now and mostly comes off the bench, but Inzaghi has great trust in him, as he can play all defensive positions. His career path has been unusual. Milan didn’t wait for him, so he developed through Palermo and Torino, eventually being signed by Manchester United in 2015. Like many, he faded at Old Trafford and returned to Italy quietly. He revived his career at Parma, and at Antonio Conte’s insistence, joined Inter for a bargain fee. Over five years, Darmian has given Inter far more than they paid.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Davide Frattesi (Sassuolo, 31,400,000)Roma’s discarded talent exploded at Sassuolo and convinced Inter that he was part of Italy’s football future. Both Milan and Inter wanted him, but Marotta used his good relationship with Sassuolo to get a better deal, offering Frattesi a clearer path to success. He became perhaps the most criticized signing of the Marotta era — underperforming for the fee paid. But that changed in this Champions League campaign, where his impact off the bench proved decisive, scoring winners against Bayern and Barcelona. He was close to returning to Roma this winter, but now people see Frattesi differently.Simone InzaghiOne of Marotta and Ausilio’s key decisions was hiring the modest Simone Inzaghi after the demanding Antonio Conte. Inzaghi’s coaching path is quite unusual. In summer 2016, Lazio had a signed agreement with Marcelo Bielsa. The presentation was scheduled, but Bielsa demanded 60 million worth of signings — Pato, Mendy, and Ben Arfa — which the notoriously stingy Claudio Lotito refused. Bielsa walked out, and sporting director Igli Tare turned to Simone Inzaghi, who was en route to coach Lotito’s other club, Salernitana. Initially a stopgap solution, Inzaghi stayed five years and raised Lazio’s level, despite some rough patches. His adaptability and ability to maximize resources convinced Marotta and Ausilio to trust him post-Conte. They stood by him even after he lost a near-certain Scudetto to Milan — and their patience paid off with a title and two Champions League finals. He’s now among the most respected coaches in football, tactically sharp and great at managing minutes in a deep squad.
