Inter the cheapest squad to assemble in Champions League top 8

Football Italia

·15 April 2025

Inter the cheapest squad to assemble in Champions League top 8

Inter are the most over-performing team in the Champions League, as the squad cost less to assemble and has a lower salary than the others at this stage.

The Nerazzurri are still technically in the running for the Treble, as they sit top of the Serie A table and are also in the Coppa Italia semi-finals against Milan.

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La Gazzetta dello Sport crunched the numbers and found that of the sides in the Champions League quarter-finals, the Italians were by far the most cost-efficient.

Following the financial problems suffered by previous owners Suning, the Serie A giants drastically cut costs to get at least closer to balancing the books.

Inter successful despite cutting costs

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 11: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale (L) celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates Mehdi Taremi (C) and Henrikh Mkhitaryan during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and Feyenoord at Stadio San Siro on March 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

In the 2023-24 campaign, so when building this current squad, Inter paid out €227m in wages and €76m in amortisation of players, for a total figure of €303m.

In comparison, their quarter-final opponents Bayern Munich had €430m in wages and €89m for players, totalling €519m.

It will surprise nobody to learn that Paris Saint-Germain’s squad cost more than any other in the competition, with the wage bill hitting €658m and €132m for players, totalling €790m.

The fact that Inter are on the verge of the semi-finals, and still going strong in two other tournaments too, points to their remarkable efficiency.

PARIS, FRANCE – APRIL 09: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Paris Saint-Germain scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa FC at Parc des Princes on April 09, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)