Inter Milan are nearing completion of their squad preparations ahead of the upcoming season, with manager Cristian Chivu hoping to begin pre-season training with a more settled group than last year. Last season, Chivu faced a disrupted preparation period due to the Club World Cup, but this time around the situation appears more stable.
While the club, led by Beppe Marotta, Piero Ausilio, and Dario Baccin, haven’t yet finalized official signings beyond the repurchase of Aleksandar Stankovic – who may yet move elsewhere with a suitable offer – several deals are reportedly close. Marco Palestra is considered a likely addition, though final details are still being negotiated. More advanced are the pursuits of Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel and Udinese defender Oumar Solet, with both transfers nearing completion. These additions would bolster a squad that, excluding players involved in international tournaments, is already nearing a competitive level in terms of numbers.
This summer will mark a shift in Inter’s pre-season routine, with a return to holding a training camp abroad. Following a gathering at Appiano Gentile in mid-July, the Italian champions will travel to Donaueschingen, Germany, from July 16th to 25th. A friendly match against Karlsruher will conclude the German phase, before a tour to Hong Kong and Perth featuring matches against Manchester City, Milan, and Juventus.
Chivu is anticipating the availability of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Stefan De Vrij during the German training camp, with contract renewals for both players considered highly probable. This would allow him to work with a core group capable of deploying Inter’s familiar 3-5-2 formation, despite the absence of players still participating in international competitions. The attacking line will be particularly thin initially, relying solely on Pio Esposito with Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, and Bonny all involved in ongoing tournaments. This may prompt Chivu to experiment with alternative tactical setups, potentially including a 3-4-2-1 formation, and assess players like Mkhitaryan, Andy Diouf, and Yanis Massolin in new roles.
