Gerry Cardinale’s tirade doesn’t go down well with Inter's fans

The words of Gerry Cardinale, owner of AC Milan, have ignited a new front of discussion in Italian soccer. Speaking to ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’ to talk not only about the Rossoneri club but also about infrastructure and the modernization of the soccer system, passing by the World Cup qualification missed for the third time in a row by Italy, the American businessman ended up sparking a controversy that quickly swept social media. The reason is simple: a phrase that many Inter fans interpreted as a gratuitous dig.

Cardinale, in stressing the need for an overall change of pace, in fact stated, “It’s not just about Serie A. It’s about not showing up at the Champions finals and losing 5-0, it’s about playing competitively in Europe.” The direct reference to the 2025 final between Inter and PSG triggered an immediate reaction from the Beneamata supporters.

On social media, in fact, the response was not long in coming. The Inter fans were divided between those who branded Cardinale’s words as a “gratuitous provocation” and those who spoke openly of an “obsession with Inter.” Many pointed out that Milan, in recent years, has not achieved results comparable to those of the Nerazzurri, accusing the Rossoneri owner of diverting attention from the problems within the Diavolo. Still others objected to the direct reference, wondering why Cardinale chose to poke at Inter in particular.

There is, however, also a part of the fanbase that tried to interpret the words in a less polemical way, claiming that Cardinale wanted to highlight the growing gap between Italian soccer and that of Europe’s big names, using a strong image like that of the Munich final. The controversy, however, continues and is bound to be discussed in the coming days.