Inter Milan set to reunite Stankovic brothers with double summer swoop
Inter Milan are finalising plans to bring both Aleksandar and Filip Stankovic, the sons of club legend Dejan Stankovic, back to the club this summer, according to reports from Italy. The moves, structured through buy-back clauses, are seen as a strategic and sentimental coup for the Serie A leaders, aiming to secure a promising midfielder and a homegrown goalkeeper for the future.
Aleksandar Stankovic, 20, is set for a permanent return from Club Brugge, with Inter activating a €23 million buy-back clause. The midfielder was sold to the Belgian club last summer for a reported €10 million with this specific mechanism in place. His development in Belgium has been rapid, with his performances attracting reported interest from clubs including Atletico Madrid and Manchester United, convincing Inter to trigger their option.
For 22-year-old goalkeeper Filip Stankovic, the path back is slightly different. He was sold to Venezia last summer, but Inter retained a 50% stake on his future resale value. With Venezia pushing for promotion to Serie A and valuing the goalkeeper between €8-10 million, Inter could re-sign him for approximately half that fee, around €4-5 million. This would represent a significant saving and secure a player who has come through the club's youth academy.
The potential double signing underscores a clear strategy from Inter's sporting management. The deals for both brothers were initially constructed as value-creation operations, allowing the players to develop with regular playing time elsewhere while protecting the club's financial and sporting interests. The successful execution of this plan now allows for their reintegration as more mature prospects.
Aleksandar Stankovic's return is viewed as a certainty and will bolster Simone Inzaghi's midfield options. After a loan at FC Luzern, his breakthrough season at Brugge demonstrated his readiness for a top-level squad. His arrival provides depth and a long-term profile in the engine room.
The situation for Filip Stankovic is part of a broader plan for Inter's goalkeeping department. The club's reported strategy involves signing Empoli's Guglielmo Vicario as the future number one, with Stankovic returning as his deputy and Raffaele Di Gennaro as third choice. The future of current starter Yann Sommer remains a variable, with a potential contract extension on reduced terms still a possibility.
Bringing back the Stankovic brothers would be a powerful narrative for the club, echoing the legacy of their father, Dejan, who won numerous trophies with Inter between 2004 and 2013. It represents a blend of strategic squad building and a commitment to the club's identity, aiming to secure key roles with players already ingrained in the Inter culture. The operations are expected to be finalized once the summer transfer window opens.
