Inter Push Pavard Towards Exit Amid Al-Ittihad's Diaby Saga
Inter’s new era under Cristian Chivu is starting with a clean-up. And one of the first big names being moved towards the door is Benjamin Pavard.
The French international, a World Cup winner in 2018 and once a marquee defensive signing, no longer features in Chivu’s technical plans at the Giuseppe Meazza. Inter have shifted from polite internal conversations to concrete action: Pavard is on the market, and the club want him gone this summer.
Pavard out, Romero in
The reasoning is blunt. Inter need space. Space in the dressing room and space on the wage bill.
Fabrizio Romano has detailed how the Nerazzurri’s strategy hardened once they struck an initial agreement to bring in Cristian Romero from Tottenham Hotspur. A high-level defender arriving means another has to leave, and Pavard has been earmarked as the sacrifice, both economically and tactically.
Romano revealed live on his YouTube channel that Inter have actively offered Pavard to Al-Ittihad and several other clubs, hoping to accelerate his exit and unlock the funds required for the rest of their summer rebuild.
The market likes Pavard. Big European clubs are circling. But the player is in no mood to be rushed. He has already turned down official proposals in recent weeks, leaving Inter in an awkward position: desperate to “close the file,” as it’s being framed in Italy, while the defender calmly weighs his options.
Reports in the Italian press insist Pavard is under pressure from the club to decide. Yet “Tuttosport” claim he has already rejected approaches from Benfica and Galatasaray, despite knowing Chivu’s new technical direction leaves him with no real future in Milan.
Saudi pull and Inter’s wider plan
Al-Ittihad sit in a curious position in this story. On one hand, they are a possible escape route for Pavard, a club with the financial muscle to satisfy Inter and tempt the player. On the other, they are already wrestling with their own high-profile dilemma.
For Pavard, a move to Jeddah would not only be about a lucrative contract. The Saudi Pro League now boasts a cluster of global stars, and the idea of joining that cast holds its own appeal. Inter, for their part, would welcome a Saudi bid that matches their expectations, freeing them to chase other targets.
One of those targets is Atletico Madrid winger Nico Gonzalez, highlighted in the Italian media as a name on Inter’s shortlist to strengthen their attack. Pavard’s departure would help fund that push, and a deal with Al-Ittihad could become a key domino in Inter’s entire summer strategy.
Diaby at the centre of Al-Ittihad storm
While Pavard’s future hangs in the balance, Al-Ittihad are fighting fires of their own around Moussa Diaby.
The French winger remains one of the club’s most important attacking pieces, and Al-Ittihad want to build, not dismantle. Yet reports suggest his agent is working hard behind the scenes to engineer an exit from “Al-Ameed,” adding another layer of tension to an already busy window.
Inside the club, the response has been firm. Al-Ittihad’s hierarchy believe they paid heavily for Diaby’s technical and marketing value and see no reason to fold under outside pressure, especially for offers that do not reflect that investment.
Saudi media figure Hattan Al-Najjar captured the club’s stance in a post on X (formerly Twitter), insisting there is “no intention at Al-Ittihad to sell Moussa Diaby.” He described the offers on the table as weak compared to the player’s value and importance, arguing they would not even cover the cost of a suitable replacement. Al-Najjar added that pressure from the player’s agent or a German club would “be of no use,” and stated that 40 million euros represents a fair valuation if Al-Ittihad were ever to consider a sale.
Inter test Al-Ittihad’s resolve
Into this storm step Inter again.
Saudi media figure Mohammed Al-Bakiri reports that the Italian club have already decided to tweak their approach in an attempt to land Diaby during the current window. According to Al-Bakiri, Al-Ittihad hesitated over an initial Inter offer of 40 million euros for a permanent transfer.
So Inter changed tack. The new proposal, he claims, is a season-long loan worth 28 million euros. A massive fee for a temporary move, but one that still doesn’t align with the player’s wishes: Diaby would prefer a permanent exit if he is to leave Jeddah at all.
The story does not end there. Saudi newspaper “Al-Riyadiah” presents a different version of events, reporting that Al-Ittihad have received an Inter offer of 18 million euros plus Albanian midfielder Kristjan Asllani in exchange for Diaby. Cash and a young central midfielder, instead of a straight fee.
Two narratives, one reality: Inter are pushing, testing every angle, and Al-Ittihad are holding their ground.
A window that could define two projects
This is not the first time Diaby has been linked with a move away from Al-Ittihad. Each previous saga fizzled out with the Frenchman still in black and yellow, his name staying on the team sheet despite the noise around him.
This time, the stakes feel higher. Inter’s reshaping under Chivu, Pavard’s search for a new home, Al-Ittihad’s desire to protect their core and still strengthen — all of it is colliding in the same window.
If Pavard accepts a Saudi adventure, Inter’s market opens up. If Diaby finally forces a move, Al-Ittihad’s project shifts overnight.
The coming days will not just decide who plays where next season. They will tell us which club bends first.
