Inter Milan’s failure to secure Marco Palestra is being blamed on the club’s American owners rather than sporting directors, with the Italy international now set to join Chelsea in a deal worth €60m including add-ons.
According to reports in Italy, the Nerazzurri had identified the Atalanta wing-back as the priority target to replace Denzel Dumfries, who has had his release clause activated. Former Inter defender Beppe Bergomi suggested the club “could’ve had the next Achraf Hakimi” had they completed the signing.
The miss represents a double blow for Inter, who also failed to land Nico Paz within the same week, intensifying scrutiny over the club’s transfer strategy under Oaktree Capital Management’s ownership.
Owners accused of hesitation
Inter directors Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio had negotiated a deal worth €45m plus bonuses with Atalanta. However, owners Oaktree had reportedly set aside only €50m for the transfer—an amount that proved insufficient to complete the deal.
Journalist Bucchioni claims Marotta was forced to “waste too much time explaining and convincing the investment management firm to raise the spending limit”, but the “answers came too late”. The report suggests that had Inter made an additional €10m available immediately, they would have secured Palestra’s signature 20 days before Chelsea intervened.
Inter had actually explored signing the two-time Italy international during the January transfer window while he was on loan at Cagliari, and the player had expressed interest in moving to San Siro.
Chelsea’s financial muscle prevails
The Premier League side’s superior offer ultimately convinced Atalanta to sell. Chelsea’s €60m proposal—structured as a larger cash payment—provided greater immediate financial benefit to the Serie A club while also allowing them to avoid strengthening a domestic rival.
With Palestra heading to London, Inter are now forced to search for alternative right wing-back options, though any further arrivals this summer will reportedly need to be funded through player sales under the current ownership constraints.