Inter Milan have been rebuffed in their attempts to prise Cesc Fabregas from Como.

Inter had made the former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder their first choice to replace coach Simone Inzaghi, who left the club on Tuesday to sign a lucrative deal with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.

Fabregas took over at Como on a full-time basis at the start of the season and impressed, leading the promoted club to 10th in Serie A.

That caught the attention of Inter but Como president Mirwan Suwarso says the Nerazzurri need to look elsewhere.

Suwarso said: “We have communicated our refusal directly to the president of Inter, who has recognised it with the courtesy and clarity that is expected among clubs that have mutual respect.

“For this reason, we treat rumours insistent on their interest in our coach as pure fantasy — hardly anyone would insist after such a clear answer. Especially a club of the calibre of Inter.”

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Chivu and Vieira next in line

Reports in Italy suggest former Inter players Patrick Vieira and Cristian Chivu will now come under consideration.

Vieira has had a mixed managerial career and is now in charge at Genoa, who finished 13th last season, while Chivu has only been coach of Parma for four months having previously been boss of Inter’s Under-19 team.

Whoever gets the job will have a hard time replacing Inzaghi, who won a Scudetto, two Coppas Italia and three Supercoppas Italiana during his four years at San Siro.

The only major trophy to elude Inzaghi was the Champions League.

Inzaghi twice guided Inter to the final only to be beaten in 2023 by Manchester City and, on Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain. Inter were no match for PSG at the weekend with the Ligue 1 side winning 5-0 in Munich.