Francesco Acerbi, no Super Cup. Optimism for Hakan Calhanoglu

Bad news for Inter, fresh from its defeat against Liverpool. In addition to the disappointment of the knockout, Cristian Chivu has to deal with a new injury scare that erupted at a key moment of the season. The muscular problems suffered by Hakan Calhanoglu (forced to leave after just ten minutes) and by Francesco Acerbi, who stopped around the half-hour mark, complicate the preparation both for the upcoming league match against Genoa and especially in view of the Italian Super Cup in Riyadh. For the Turkish midfielder, moderate optimism is filtering through: initial checks have ruled out injuries and no further tests will be carried out.

Andrea Gussoni

The discomfort in his right adductor caused him to stop immediately, avoiding movements that could aggravate the problem: Inter hopes it is only a contracture. Calhanogluwill definitely skipthe match with Genoa (where in the director’s booth is ready Zielinski) and sarwill be monitored daily ahead of the Super Cup, with no intention of risking him unless fully recovered. Much less encouraging news about Acerbi, who underwent clinical and instrumental examinations at the Humanitas Institute in Rozzano. The tests revealed a hamstring strain in his right thigh, a diagnosis that makes his participation in the Riyadh challenge impossible. The defender could return in about a month.

At the end of the season, Inter will most likely lose two highly experienced elements in defense: Stefan de Vrij and Francesco Acerbi. Both with expiring contracts, they now seem to have reached the end credits of their experience in Milan, and the club is already moving to identify possible successors to the two seasoned centerbacks. Among the profiles evaluated by Beppe Marotta is that of Marcos Senesi, who could leave Bournemouth for free given the contract expiration date set for June 30, 2026. The English club has had several discussions with the defender’s entourage for renewal but still no agreement has been found.

Born in Concordia in May 1997, Marcos Senesi is a defender very skilled in the aerial game and man marking, a profile reminiscent of Francesco Acerbi but with more speed. Raised in Argentina in the ranks of San Lorenzo, the defender moved to Feyenoord in 2019 for €7 million. With the Dutch club he collected 116 appearances topped by 9 goals and 7 assists, then in the summer of 2022 he moved to Bournemouth for 15 million euros. Today he is a key part of the English team but, if the extension situation does not unblock, he could leave the club in the summer.