Former Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has said he would seriously consider working in the Premier League, while making clear that he has not held talks over a new appointment. His comments, reported on 11 November amid links with Tottenham Hotspur, offer an intriguing glimpse into his next career move without amounting to confirmation of any deal.
What did Piero Ausilio actually say?
Speaking at the Social Football Summit in Turin, Ausilio described the Premier League as an attractive new challenge after his long spell in Italian football. According to Football Italia’s 11 November report, he said he had not spoken to anyone about a role and characterised the speculation surrounding his future as rumours.
That distinction matters. Interest in English football is not the same thing as an offer from Tottenham, negotiations with the club or an agreed appointment. Ausilio expressed a willingness to consider a suitable opportunity, but there is no confirmed Tottenham deal in the information reported from the event.
Sport Witness also covered his remarks on 11 November, highlighting his openness to a Premier League position. Both accounts point to the same essential conclusion: Ausilio is interested in the possibility of working in England, but has not announced a destination.
Why has Tottenham been mentioned?
Tottenham have been linked with the former Inter executive in reports about the club’s recruitment structure. The attraction is understandable. A sporting director influences squad planning, recruitment priorities, contract decisions and the relationship between the coaching staff and football operations. Such a role can shape a club for several transfer windows rather than one summer.
For supporters, however, it is important not to mistake a reported link for an imminent appointment. Tottenham have not been identified in Ausilio’s quoted comments as a club with which he is negotiating. Any specific claim about an offer, salary or start date would need separate confirmation from the club or reliable reporting.
The experience he would bring from Inter
Ausilio spent decades working within Inter’s football operation, developing a reputation for navigating demanding transfer markets and balancing recruitment with financial considerations. His career there included involvement in building competitive squads across several managerial eras, from periods of rebuilding to domestic success and deep European runs.
That background is particularly relevant in the Premier League, where clubs must make decisions in a highly competitive and expensive market. Recruitment is about more than identifying an outstanding player. It also requires judging value, contract length, squad balance and whether a signing fits the manager’s approach.
Yet experience in Serie A would not automatically guarantee success in England. The pace of the transfer market, home-grown player requirements and the expectations of a club’s supporters all create different pressures. A successful sporting director must also establish an effective working relationship with existing decision-makers.
What does this mean for Spurs’ next steps?
At present, the most concrete development is Ausilio’s public expression of interest in the English game. Tottenham-related speculation remains just that. A genuine appointment story would require a formal club announcement or robust reporting that substantive negotiations have taken place.
Should Spurs eventually pursue him, the questions would concern the precise scope of his responsibilities, who would make final recruitment decisions and how any new structure would work with the coaching team. Those details are essential when assessing the significance of an executive appointment.
There is also no reason to assume that an interest in Premier League football restricts Ausilio to Tottenham. His remarks described a league and a potential professional challenge, not a signed agreement with a particular employer.
What happens next?
For now, supporters should watch for an official statement or independently verified negotiations rather than treating every new link as a breakthrough. Ausilio has left the door open to England, which is a newsworthy development in its own right. The identity of his next club, and whether he will work in the Premier League at all, remain unresolved.
Sources: Football Italia, 11 November 2026; Sport Witness, 11 November 2026. Both report the same public comments and are not independent confirmation of any Tottenham negotiations.