Inter’s snub over Palestra exposes Tonali regret and Oaktree’s distance

Inter Milan director Piero Ausilio admitted his club were “snubbed” by Atalanta over Marco Palestra’s move to Chelsea, while also revealing his biggest transfer regret was failing to sign Sandro Tonali from Brescia. Speaking at the Serie A winter transfer-market hub in Rimini this evening, Ausilio contrasted the two deals: Chelsea’s offer for Palestra was double Inter’s maximum wage and included €10 million more than their valuation.

The Palestra saga began when Atalanta’s player appeared set to join Inter, only for Chelsea to intervene with a superior financial package. Ausilio described the outcome as a personal rejection, saying: “I got snubbed the way I haven’t been since I asked a girl out in school.” He confirmed Inter’s final bid was less than half of what Chelsea eventually provided.

Reports have linked Inter’s slow progress on Palestra to hesitation from their US-based owners Oaktree Capital Management. Ausilio acknowledged the challenge of coordinating with owners based in the United States, noting that communication sometimes falters between the board and sporting leadership. “It is a bit unusual, and it is important to have a go-between like Marotta working with both the sporting and managerial sides of things,” he said.

Tonali’s transfer failure, however, predates the Palestra disappointment. Ausilio admitted he was “caught napping” when Tonali moved from Brescia to Inter’s city rivals Milan in the summer of 2020. Three years later, Milan sold Tonali to Newcastle United for over €60 million.

The contrast between the two cases is stark: one involves a missed opportunity due to external competition and ownership distance, the other a failure of internal judgment. Ausilio’s candor suggests Inter’s transfer strategy remains under scrutiny as they navigate both on-field ambitions and off-field decisions.

With the Serie A winter window now open, Inter face renewed pressure to strengthen their squad amid ongoing scrutiny of their recruitment processes and ownership dynamics.