Inter Milan president Steven Zhang has explained why Antonio Conte left the club just days after lifting the Serie A title.
Conte led Inter to their first league title since the 2009/10 campaign, but surprisingly parted ways with the club shortly after the final game of the season.
Despite seeing the former Chelsea and Italy boss guide Inter back to the summit of Italian football, Zhang has since revealed that their "different views" led to the coach's exit from the San Siro.
"From the first moment we took over Inter, we thought that Conte would be the best coach for our project. Two years ago, we finally managed to bring him to the Nerazzurri," the club president told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I was and remain convinced that Conte is a winning coach: this is the reason that led us to invest so much in him and in the team in the last two years.
"Last summer, the pandemic had greatly affected our revenues but we continued with him, focusing on the season convinced that we could win.
"The decision was right, but now the bill brought by the pandemic is such that we cannot fail to review the situation by looking for savings that lead to a future budget balance.
"We must reduce costs and control risks. This obviously also influences the transfer market strategy. Our different views on the situation led to the separation.
"What wasn't fundamental for him, was for the club, and vice-versa. Conte is a top coach, but as president I have to think about the solidity of the club."
