Cristi Chivu, one of the most highly regarded defenders of his generation and a mainstay at Ajax, AS Roma and Inter Milan, has amassed a considerable fortune from football.
Cristi Chivu, Romanian coach Photo/EPA
However, Crsti Chivu’s entry into the business environment did not have the same success. Several investments made after the withdrawal, from real estate and tourism to transport and trade, generated significant losses. Estimates show that around 7 million euros were wasted in these failed attempts.
The biggest failure came in real estate. In 2009, Chivu and his impresario, Pietro Chiodi, bought land and housing just as the market collapsed, caused by the economic crisis. The properties quickly depreciated and the investment turned into a substantial loss. Other businesses, such as the freight company or the clothing store opened in Timișoara, accumulated debts and were closed.
Financial return through football
Currently, Chivu has stabilized his situation thanks to his return to football. As the head coach of Inter, he collects approximately 2.5 million euros annually, an amount that brings him back to the top area of earnings in Romanian sports.
Even though his experiences in business were expensive, his fortune is estimated at more than 20 million euros, and the former international does not face financial problems. However, his journey shows that success on the ground does not guarantee similar results in the world of entrepreneurship.
