Chivu and Marotta’s call on the highway: the behind-the-scenes story of his arrival at Inter

He was driving along the Autostrada del Sole heading to sign with Parma when the phone rang: it was Marotta. According to what was reconstructed by Gazzetta dello Sport, this is the behind-the-scenes story that explains how Chivu became the coach of Inter.

The Nerazzurri president had already had the name in mind for some time. Cristian Chivu had started his career well in Serie A by saving Parma from relegation and was close to renewing with CEO Cherubini. Parma itself had been warned: Chivu had hinted that if Inter contacted him, he would choose the Nerazzurri.

And so it happened. On the very day he left Milan to go sign, Marotta called him with a two-year offer. Chivu turned around on the highway, informed Parma, and chose Inter.

Gazzetta dello Sport ends the story with a comparison: Fabregas, who stayed at Como, won the Champions League and continues to express his style of play. Chivu, on the other hand, at Inter achieved the league and Coppa Italia double at the first attempt, a result that not even Mourinho had managed to achieve. “Sometimes the doors of life slide open without friction and without regrets,” writes the newspaper.