Inter Milan Moves to Secure Key Player Contracts
Inter Milan have tied down one of their brightest prospects and are wasting no time attacking the next phase of their long-term project.
With Pio Esposito now extended through to 2031, Corriere dello Sport reports that the Nerazzurri hierarchy will pivot straight from the transfer market to a different kind of battle: contracts. As soon as the summer window shuts, the boardroom at San Siro will switch fully into renewal mode, determined to secure the spine of Simone Inzaghi’s squad and avoid any slow-burning contract sagas later in the season.
Dimarco at the top of the list
Front and centre sits Federico Dimarco. The left-back’s current deal runs until 2027, with Inter holding an option to extend it by another year. On paper, there’s no immediate emergency. In reality, the club know exactly how crucial he has become.
Dimarco, the reigning Scudetto MVP and one of the symbols of Inter’s 21st league title, is pushing for a salary that reflects his status. According to the report, he is seeking a raise from 4 million to 5 million euros per season. Inter are calm thanks to the option in his contract, but there is no desire to let negotiations drag or risk unsettling a player who has become essential on and off the ball.
The message from inside the club is clear: Dimarco is open to a longer deal, wants his value recognised, and remains locked in on the pitch while the directors handle the rest.
Carlos Augusto and the minutes question
On the opposite flank of the planning board sits Carlos Augusto. Talks over an improved deal for the Brazilian have been ongoing for months, with Inter ready to lift his salary to around 3 million euros.
Money, though, is only part of the equation. The real issue is his role.
With Alessandro Bastoni and Dimarco both ahead of him in Cristian Chivu’s plans, Augusto must weigh up the promise of a pay rise against the reality of his playing time. Inter want him as a versatile, reliable option in a demanding season, but the player’s appetite for regular minutes will shape how quickly an agreement can be reached.
Calhanoglu enters a decisive year
Further up the pitch, another key name has quietly moved into a critical phase. Hakan Calhanoglu has officially entered the final year of his contract, a situation no elite club can afford to ignore for long.
President Beppe Marotta has already stepped in publicly, underlining Calhanoglu’s importance to Inter’s “historical project” and making it clear that the Turkish playmaker remains central to their vision. The intention is obvious: avoid any uncertainty around one of the team’s tactical leaders and send a strong signal both to the dressing room and the market.
The next wave: pillars up to 2028
Beyond the immediate files on the desk, a broader puzzle stretches out toward 2028. Inter’s management must map out a sequence of renewals for several pillars of the current side, ensuring that the core of the Scudetto-winning group does not drift toward dangerous contract territory.
Names such as Alessandro Bastoni, Marcus Thuram, Manuel Akanji and Piotr Zielinski sit within that medium-term window. Each case brings its own mix of age profile, physical demands and financial weight. Each will need a tailored solution that keeps Inter competitive without breaking the wage structure that has underpinned their recent stability.
Inter’s transfer market may be closing, but the real work in the offices at San Siro is only accelerating. The season on the pitch has a calendar. The season of contract renewals, for a club with this level of ambition, never really stops.
