Inter Milan forward Mehdi Taremi is unable to leave Iran due to escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, preventing him from joining his team for the FIFA Club World Cup. The club confirmed on Saturday that Taremi remains stranded in Tehran and will not be available for their tournament opener.
Taremi, 32, had returned home last week to play for Iran’s national team. He played a key role in their 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over North Korea, scoring one of the goals. However, due to the regional conflict, commercial flight options out of Iran have been disrupted, leaving the striker grounded and unavailable for club duties.
Inter Milan is set to face Monterrey, a top Mexican side, on Tuesday at the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, east of Los Angeles. This will be the team’s first appearance in the tournament under new head coach Cristian Chivu, who stepped in following Simone Inzaghi’s departure. Inzaghi exited after Inter’s heavy 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
Chivu, speaking during his introductory press conference in Beverly Hills, acknowledged the disappointment of missing out on both the Serie A title and the Champions League trophy. Still, he emphasized that Inter’s recent campaign should be viewed with pride.
Reflecting on the season, the 44-year-old Romanian highlighted the team’s journey. “We eliminated Bayern and Barcelona in the Champions League. We led the league for most of the season. That speaks volumes,” Chivu said. “Failure is not about missing trophies; it’s about making excuses. And this team made none.”
Despite Taremi’s absence, Inter appears focused and motivated to start strong in the Club World Cup under their new leadership. As the tournament begins, fans will be watching closely to see how Chivu’s era unfolds.
By Yockshard Enyendi
