The moment has finally arrived for Monterrey to debut in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/club-world-cup/">2025 FIFA Club World Cup</a>. The Liga MX side faces a major challenge in their first match, taking on one of the most competitive teams in Europe—Inter Milan. While the Italian giants are clear favorites on paper, veteran defender <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/sergio-ramos/">Sergio Ramos</a> sees this as a golden opportunity to show the world what Monterrey is made of.



Inter has been in top form over the past few months, but their head coach Cristian Chivu admitted he doesn’t know much about his first opponent. While some might interpret that as dismissive, others see it as a chance for Rayados to take the element of surprise.



“With all due respect, we have little information on them,” Chivu said. “From what I’ve seen, they’re an aggressive, vertical team that enjoys keeping possession and has a lot of individual quality.”



<h2>Ramos confident in Rayados’ ability to compete</h2>



Sergio Ramos, who captains the Mexican side, took note of Chivu’s comments and believes they could work in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/monterrey/">Monterrey</a>’s favor.



“Maybe they know four or five names on our squad, and that can actually be an advantage,” Ramos said. “The less they know about us, the better. Tomorrow, they’ll get to see the level of some of our players—guys with incredible talent who may not be well known yet.”



With four Club World Cup titles to his name from his time at Real Madrid, Ramos is no stranger to international tournaments. Now, his mission is to help Monterrey surpass their previous best performance in the competition.



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“We came here to go toe-to-toe with any team. At this level, it’s about the small details and mentality. We’re ready to play fearless soccer against anyone.”



<h2>Ramos: Liga MX has talent but needs growth</h2>



The Spanish center back also addressed the broader perception of Mexican football, expressing belief in its potential while acknowledging there’s work to be done.



“Mexican soccer has tons of talent, no doubt about it. But there’s still room for improvement in areas like mindset, training habits, and professionalism. These things need to be fine-tuned for the league to truly become elite.”



<h2>Hoping to avoid Real Madrid?</h2>



When asked about his former club, Ramos didn’t hide his admiration.



“This tournament has some of the best teams in the world, and Real Madrid is always a favorite—especially now with Xabi Alonso in charge. He knows the club inside out and has won it all.”

FIFA Club World Cup: Sergio Ramos sends a strong 5-word message to Inter Milan’s coach

FIFA Club World Cup: Sergio Ramos sends a strong 5-word message to Inter Milan's coach - World Soccer Talk

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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/inter/">Inter Milan</a> found themselves without a head coach just weeks before the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, following Simone Inzaghi’s surprising decision to join Saudi side Al Hilal. After being turned down by Como manager <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cesc-fabregas">Cesc Fabregas</a>, the Italian giants acted swiftly to secure Inzaghi’s replacement.



Inzaghi’s departure came immediately after the UEFA Champions League final, leaving Inter with little time to prepare for the high-stakes tournament. Fabregas, seen as a top candidate due to his impressive work at Como, was quickly ruled out when the club’s president and the former midfielder both rejected Inter’s approach.



“We have communicated our refusal directly to the president of Inter, who has recognized it with the courtesy and clarity that is expected among clubs that have mutual respect. For this reason, we treat rumors 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,” Como president Mirwan Suwarso stated.



<h2>Chivu takes over as Inter head coach</h2>



With Fabregas out of the picture, Inter named <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/chivu/">Cristian Chivu</a> as their new head coach on a contract running through 2027. The former Romanian international arrives after a brief stint at Parma, where he managed 13 matches after joining in February 2025.



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Chivu is well-known among Inter supporters, remembered for wearing a protective headgear following a serious cranial injury. He spent seven years at the club from 2007 to 2014, winning nine major trophies, including the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League and three Serie A titles.


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The Romanian began his coaching career within Inter’s youth academy, starting with the U-16 team in 2018. He climbed the ranks to lead the U-19 side from 2021 to 2024, overseeing 112 matches before accepting the Parma job.



According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Fabregas was Inter’s top choice, but his rejection forced the club to explore alternative options. With Roberto De Zerbi unavailable and Genoa’s Patrick Vieira also considered, Inter ultimately opted for Chivu. His tactical alignment — favoring the same 3-5-2 formation used by Inzaghi — made for a seamless transition.



While Chivu lacks the top-tier coaching experience Inter initially sought, his deep understanding of the club’s culture and system made him a logical choice. With the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/club-world-cup/">Club World Cup</a> just around the corner, familiarity may prove more valuable than pedigree as Inter look to compete on the global stage.

Inter Milan sign Inzaghi’s replacement for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after being snubbed by Cesc Fabregas

Inter Milan sign Inzaghi's replacement for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after being snubbed by Cesc Fabregas - World Soccer Talk

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FIFA Club World Cup: Sergio Ramos sends a strong 5-word message to Inter Milan’s coach

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Inter Milan sign Inzaghi’s replacement for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after being snubbed by Cesc Fabregas