Inter’s return to Appiano Gentile begins with a thinner group than Cristian Chivu would ordinarily have at his disposal, but the pause offers the coach a chance to start turning his attention towards Parma.
The players not involved with their national teams report back to the training ground after Chivu granted the squad a full week away from work. Twelve members of the first-team group are absent on international duty, spread across friendlies, Nations League fixtures and qualifying matches for the next Africa Cup of Nations.
It leaves Chivu without the numbers or the usual rhythm of a normal week in Milan, yet the players who remain can begin the first preparations for Serie A’s resumption. The Parma match is the next domestic marker for Inter after the international break.
Injured players close to returning
The break is also expected to bring encouraging news from the treatment room. Hakan Calhanoglu is set to be available again after the muscle problem in his right adductor, while Federico Dimarco has already made progress after returning from Italy’s Coverciano base last Monday.
Spence is also nearing fitness. He has not yet made his Nerazzurri debut, but is among the players expected to be recovered by the time Parma arrive on the calendar.
There is greater caution around Stones. Inter are monitoring him day by day, and there remains uncertainty over whether he will be ready to feature immediately once the break ends.
For Chivu, the international window has therefore become a balancing act: keeping the available players active at Appiano while waiting for his travelling internationals to return, and using the time to bring a largely restored squad together for the next stage of the league campaign.
