Inter have completed the permanent signing of midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic from Venezia, the club confirmed on Sunday. The 20-year-old returns to the Nerazzurri, where his father, Dejan Stankovic, enjoyed a hugely successful nine-and-a-half-year spell, winning 15 trophies. Stankovic will wear the number 5 shirt, previously worn by his father during his time at the San Siro.
Aleksandar Stankovic progressed through the Inter youth system before joining Venezia. While his brothers Stefan and Filip also pursued football careers – Stefan stepping away at 17 and Filip currently playing for Venezia – Aleksandar is the only one to follow in his father’s footsteps at the senior level with Inter. Inter exercised their buyback clause this summer to bring the young midfielder back to Milan.
Stankovic enjoyed a breakout season with Club Brugge, where he scored nine goals in 54 appearances across all competitions. He featured as a starter in ten Champions League matches and notably contributed a goal and two assists in a 3-0 victory over Marseille. His performances have marked him as one of the promising young midfielders in his position.
Comparisons to his father are inevitable, though current assessments suggest Aleksandar possesses a different skillset. While Dejan Stankovic was known for his versatility, Aleksandar is described as a more direct, box-to-box midfielder. However, both share a notable talent for striking the ball. He has been trialled in a more defensive midfield role by coach Christian Chivu during pre-season, but may be more effective as an attacking midfielder. Stankovic previously played alongside Chivu in Inter’s youth setup, forming a midfield trio with the current coach. This reunion is expected to aid his integration into the first team. The signing bolsters Inter’s midfield options and provides further depth as they prepare for the upcoming Serie A season.
