"Pellegrini has left us. For 11 years he led Inter with wisdom, honor and determination, leaving an indelible imprint in the history of our club,” Inter announced on its website, just hours before the team's highly anticipated clash against Paris Saint-Germain for the European title.
Pellegrini was born in Milan in 1940. Italian media reports indicated that he had been suffering from a lung infection.
A successful businessman who amassed his wealth in the catering and services industry, Pellegrini became the 17th president of Inter Milan, a position he held from 1984 to 1995. His tenure was a period of notable success for the Nerazzurri.
Under his leadership, Inter famously won the Serie A title in 1989, a triumph that cemented his legacy, and also secured the UEFA Cup twice. He was instrumental in bringing several iconic German players to the club, including Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Lothar Matthäus, Andreas Brehme, and Jürgen Klinsmann, who became key figures in the team's successes during that era. Pellegrini eventually sold his shares in the club to Massimo Moratti in 1995, marking the end of a significant chapter in Inter's history.