Inter’s next international break offers Ivan Provedel a quieter but potentially important opening. From Monday 28, the goalkeeper will work at Appiano Gentile without Josep Martinez, who has joined Spain’s squad for Nations League fixtures against England and Croatia. Martinez is expected to be La Roja’s third-choice goalkeeper and may not add to his single international appearance, yet his absence gives Provedel a first uninterrupted chance to make his case inside Cristian Chivu’s group.
The former Lazio goalkeeper arrived in the summer as Inter’s deputy, but he did not come with the profile of a player unfamiliar with responsibility. For six seasons he had been a regular starter, first at Spezia and then in Rome, where his most memorable contribution came far beyond his own penalty area: the last-minute Champions League group-stage equaliser against Atletico Madrid.
His patience may matter again now. Martinez has endured a difficult stretch, with his misplaced pass in Madrid contributing to Real Madrid’s second goal still a recent memory. He was also judged to have significant responsibility in Inter’s 3-0 defeat to Udinese. Chivu has publicly backed his goalkeeper and is expected to continue doing so, as he has with other members of the squad. Still, the competition behind Martinez is becoming more tangible, and Provedel’s reliable work during pre-season has kept him in the conversation for a Nerazzurri debut.
A goalkeeper accustomed to waiting for his moment
Provedel’s route to the top level has rarely been straightforward. Before establishing himself in Serie A, he moved through the lower divisions with Pisa, Perugia, Modena and Pro Vercelli. There was a season at Empoli in the top flight in 2018-19, followed by another step back down, including six months with Juve Stabia.
His decisive break arrived at Lazio in 2022, and it came through an incident that changed the pecking order almost immediately. On the opening day against Bologna at a packed Olimpico, Luis Maximiano was handed his debut after joining from Granada for around €10 million. The Portuguese goalkeeper lasted only five minutes before being sent off for handling the ball outside the area.
Provedel entered the match and helped Lazio recover a 2-1 victory. From then on he became the regular goalkeeper, while Maximiano was largely restricted to cup appearances. That episode is part of the background to his current position at Inter: a goalkeeper who has spent much of his career preparing for opportunities rather than demanding them, and who knows that a brief opening can shape an entire season.
For now, Martinez remains Chivu’s first choice and retains the coach’s support. But the break will allow Provedel to work without the Spanish international at the training ground, with a clear personal aim: to turn his dependable preparation into his first appearance in Inter colours.
