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MIAMI:Simone Inzaghi said he gave his all to Inter Milan before taking over at Al-Hilal earlier this month after the Saudi club’s CEO told the BBC the move had been agreed before Inter’s 5-0 loss to Paris St. Germain in the Champions League final.
Inzaghi won a Serie A title, two Coppa Italias and three Italian Super Cups during his four years at Inter but could not deliver the Champions League title and left the club just days after their humiliating defeat by PSG in Munich.
“It might look like it’s something that came quickly, but it’s the result of hard work,” Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada said.
“He was playing a massive match and asked (us) to keep things aside until after the final, it was decided but not signed before the final, just because out of respect he asked us to wait, which is certainly fair enough.”
The comments prompted Italian media to question whether the Inter squad knew about the move ahead of the final and if it had any impact on their performance.
Inzaghi, speaking ahead of Al-Hilal’s first game at the Club World Cup against Real Madrid on Wednesday, said there could be no questions about his commitment to Inter during his time there.
“Today I heard — or heard about — all sorts of things, as has often happened during the four years I was at Inter,” the Italian told a press conference.
“If this was the price to pay for my four years at Inter, I’ll gladly pay it. But it’s nothing compared to the good I received from the entire Inter world — I mean the fans, the management, the players, everyone at Inter.
“I know I’ll miss it — I’ll miss everything, even this — even the most unfair accusations that were made over these four years.
“But I was truly happy. I gave my all.”
Inter President Beppe Barotta did not want to be drawn into the controversy but said no individual was bigger than his club.
“I don’t chase after rumors, denials, or other people’s behavior — everyone knows what they’ve done,” he said before Inter’s Club World Cup game against Monterrey on Tuesday.
“A cycle has ended and we thank Simone Inzaghi for all he’s given us, but now there’s a new cycle to open and focus on. Inter’s story moves forward and doesn’t depend on individuals. ”

FRISCO, Texas: World No. 1 Nelly Korda attended a press conference Tuesday at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship with therapeutic tape on her neck.

Korda explained that she suffered a spasm the day before during practice at PGA Frisco, the site of this week’s major championship.

“I hit a shot out of the rough yesterday (Monday), and my neck went into a full spasm,” Korda said. “It’s getting better, but yeah, it was not very good yesterday.”

But Korda — the betting favorite to win this week despite a winless start to her season —  said she expects to be ready for her first-round tee time Thursday.

The injury nonetheless comes at a tough time for Korda, whose last win on the LPGA Tour came in November. She tied for second at the US Women’s Open earlier this month.

Korda cited a neck injury for missing a pair of tournaments on the Asia swing late in the 2024 season. She also sat out a chunk of the 2022 season due to a blood clot in her arm.

“Obviously with the injury that I had last year, every single time something kind of flares up in my neck now, I think I feel it a little bit more than what I used to,” she said.

“But I have a great physio who takes care of me. Trying to work through it, but I’ll be ready by Thursday.”

Korda said the heat in Texas this week will be a potential complicating factor as she tries to gameplan how to “be smart” and take care of her body while going out and competing.

Korda won the first of her two major titles at the 2021 Women’s PGA in Atlanta. That earned her a lifetime invite to the champions’ dinner, but she had to pass on the tradition Monday evening while getting treatment for her neck.

“I didn’t go because of my neck. I was so sad to miss it, though,” Korda said. “I messaged (defending champion Amy Yang of South Korea); the menu looked unbelievable. I love Korean food. So I was really jealous.

“At the end of the day, I need to prioritize my body. So I wasn’t able to go, but I missed out on a good dinner.”