Inter’s return from the international break has brought Cristian Chivu close to a full group at Appiano Gentile, with John Stones the only player missing as preparations move towards Saturday’s meeting with Parma, the club from the coach’s own past.
After a rest day, the Nerazzurri gathered for the final two training sessions before the league resumes. Lautaro Martinez was due to arrive from Malpensa after travelling back from Argentina, where he took part in Lionel Messi’s major farewell celebration with the national side. His first work at the training ground will be limited to recovery activity before he rests and returns for the final session on Friday.
The captain is expected to begin against Parma among the substitutes. Chivu could turn to him during the second half should the match demand it, but the wider intention is to preserve his energy for Club Brugge’s visit to San Siro three days later. That Champions League fixture already carries weight for Inter after the disappointment of their opening defeat at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu, a match which left the side with regrets despite the result.
With Lautaro managed carefully, the principal attacking decision for Parma concerns the player who will partner Marcus Thuram. Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny are competing for the place, with their physical condition likely to influence the final call. Esposito has accumulated 236 minutes on Italy duty, more than twice the 115 minutes Bonny played for Ivory Coast.
Thuram, meanwhile, is set to start. He was not included in Zinedine Zidane’s first France squad as head coach, but that omission has allowed him to remain at Inter and devote time to improving his conditioning.
There is also competition in goal. Ivan Provedel may move ahead of Martinez after the latter’s commitments with Spain, while Djed Spence will be included in the matchday squad. For Chivu, the approach to Parma is therefore shaped not simply by selection but by the sequence ahead: a league afternoon against familiar opposition, followed quickly by a European night Inter cannot afford to mishandle.
