Inter face financial 'devastation' as Fiorentina defeat sparks fears over future with Champions League lifeline at risk

Inter could face a worrying downward slide if they fail to qualify for next season's Champions League - with reports in Italy predicting budget cuts, a salary cap and several player sales to cover the costs.

Simone Inzaghi's team are slipping down the Serie A table after three defeats on the spin to Spezia, Juventus and Fiorentina and they stand in serious jeopardy of missing out on the top four. Fifth-placed Roma moved level on points with them while Atalanta sit just two further back and if their poor recent form isn't arrested then the final ten games of the season could realistically see them drop as low as seventh.

Anything other than a top four finish would spell "devastation" though, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, who reckon the future looks bleak for the Nerazzurri if they miss out. Off the top, it's claimed the football budget would immediately be cut by €50m (£43m), which wouldn't be offset by any over-performance this season as they look ahead to a quarter-final with Benfica.

It's then claimed that a salary cap could come into place alongside other cost-cutting measures which would be expected to include player sales. Football Italia name Nicolo Barella, who has been linked with Liverpool, while Andrea Bastoni and Lautaro Martinez could also be moved on for significant cash. Those players would, presumably, be expected to be replaced for a fraction of the fees raised.

It would all represent a significant fall from grace for Inter who won Serie A as recently as 2022 and haven't dropped out of the top four since 2017. It's not all bad as they are in the semis of the Coppa Italia, facing Juventus on Tuesday, and the last eight of this season's Champions League, but they will likely need to turn things