Inter's achievement of winning five scudettos in a row equals the record set by Juventus in the 1930s but one of Inter's championships could yet be struck off.
Linked to Manchester City's Carlos Tevez, Inter's sporting director Marko Branca admitted they would be struggling to afford him.
The 19-year-old continued his fine run of goalscoring on Sunday when he struck in Inter's stunning 3-1 win over Juventus - and the Nigerian's displays have impressed the Inter president.
BBC: SPORT | Football | African | Inter president praises Martins
One of Bolingbroke's first tasks it to increase Inter's home attendances at the San Siro, a stadium the club shares with AC Milan.
But his new side produced a professional display against his former players and Chelsea fans were left with the enduring image of Mourinho doing his best to tone down his celebrations for Samuel Eto'o's second-half goal, which secured Inter's quarter-final place.
Yet the game looked to be heading for a stalemate until the 90th minute when Cesar failed to hold Robben's 20-yard strike and Gomez capitalised, leaving Inter's grasp on the Champions League crown they won last May hanging by a thread.
However, Inter's Joseph Biabiany put the match away with a goal in the 85th.
"We're all deeply dismayed and very sorry, " Zanetti said in a statement published on Inter's web site.
Mauricio Pinilla scored twice to leave Inter's hope of qualifying for next season's Champions League in jeopardy.
The win was Inter's third world title after they won the former Intercontinental Cup in 1964 and 1965.
But six minutes into extra-time, the previously quiet Emmanuel Adebayor silenced Inter's fans when poking home a vital away goal.
"Finally, after what seems like an eternity, I've signed for the club I've always supported, " he told Inter's official website.
The second period was even more one-sided in terms of possession, with almost the entire half played in Inter's defensive third.
Eto'o was an integral part of Inter's success last term, scoring 16 goals during a highly successful campaign under then-coach Jose Mourinho.
The former Inter Milan forward suffered racial abuse at the hands of some Juve supporters during Inter's trip to the Olympic Stadium last season.
Inter's win came as a welcome relief after a midweek Champions League defeat to Barcelona which leaves their qualification for the knockout stages in the balance.
The forward also scored one and created one in Inter's 3-0 win over Congolese side TP Mazembe to seal the Club World Cup final on Saturday.
Vieri missed Inter's victory over the Italian champions Juventus and was also absent when the Milan side thrashed Arsenal 3-0 in a Champions League encounter in September.
BBC: SPORT | Football | African | Inter president praises Martins
But Diego Forlan pulled one back after 71 minutes -- incredibly Inter's first in 541 minutes -- before the Uruguayan set up Diego Milito for the equalizer.
"But I trust him and his team-mates trust him, so he will work hard this week to be available, " Mourinho said after Inter's first training session in Beijing.
Martins was Inter's top scorer in the 2003 pre-season - with six goals to his credit - and has now added another four in 13 appearances this season.
BBC: SPORT | Football | African | Inter president praises Martins
Raul all but ended Inter's hopes of a comeback when he picked up Jose Manuel Jurado's pass, rounded Julio Cesar and slotted in on the stroke of half time.
Towards the end of last season, when it looked likely that Benitez could be leaving Liverpool, he was strongly linked with Inter's rivals Juventus, before they appointed Luigi del Neri.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, City's bid for Maicon could be rivalled by Real Madrid, whose new boss Jose Mourinho is also chasing Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Inter Milan's Diego Milito.
Vieri, who had seen limited action in Inter's previous game, limped off the field holding his thigh after stretching for the ball near the Parma goal and colliding with the keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
While the visitors continued to play the prettier football, Inter's defence proved typically durable and the Italians created another chance when Kraft made a terrific one-handed save to deny Eto'o from 12 yards.
Following Inter's Club World Cup final success in Abu Dhabi, Benitez angered Moratti when he criticized the board for not investing in new players after he took over from treble winner Jose Mourinho in June.
The hosts started in determined mood following Inter's 2-2 draw at Bari on Saturday and Ronaldinho took an Alessandro Nesta cross on his chest on three minutes before sending a spectacular overhead bicycle kick just off target.
Current Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti led Inter's local rivals AC Milan with aplomb between 2001 and 2009 and this was the first time he has brought a side to the city since leaving for west London last summer.
But Howdes was to have his moment as Schalke wrapped the tie up when 33-year-old Raul, a constant thorn in Inter's side, picked out Howdes with a stunning scooped pass and the centre-back fired into the bottom corner.
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