Inter Milan have confirmed Josep Martinez as their first-choice goalkeeper, a decision stemming from discussions between management and coach Cristian Chivu. The club began to seriously consider Martinez as their starter in early 2026, noting a marked improvement in his training and attitude. This followed a difficult period for the Spanish goalkeeper, who was involved in an automobile accident in October that resulted in a fatality.
Martinez initially joined Inter from Genoa in the summer of 2024 for a fee of €14 million, a transfer facilitated by Ausilio and Baccin. The move to elevate Martinez to the starting role effectively ends any consideration of signing Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham, a deal which would have cost Inter upwards of €20 million. Those funds will now be allocated to other areas of the squad.
With Martinez now established as the number one, Inter are actively searching for an experienced backup goalkeeper. A potential return for Filip Stankovic, currently with Venezia, was briefly considered, but Chivu prefers a more seasoned option who can provide reliable cover without undermining Martinez’s confidence. The club has therefore begun exploring the possibility of signing Ivan Provedel from Lazio.
Provedel, 32, is under contract with Lazio until June 2027. He was the team’s starting goalkeeper for four seasons after arriving from Spezia in 2022, but his season was cut short by a shoulder injury requiring surgery in March. Lazio have since identified Edoardo Motta as their long-term solution in goal, with Christos Mandas also returning from a loan spell at Bournemouth, potentially making Provedel available. Provedel’s experience, Italian nationality – a valued asset for Inter CEO Beppe Marotta – and relatively low cost make him an attractive target. Inter will need to negotiate with Lazio president Claudio Lotito to secure his services.
Meanwhile, veteran goalkeeper Yann Sommer has indicated his desire to continue playing at a high level for several more years, stating he will retire when he no longer enjoys training. Sommer’s future remains uncertain, and a contract extension with Inter is currently not being pursued.
