The 2025-26 season is approaching, and Inter Milan must recover from a disappointing end to the previous season. They missed the chance to win the Italian Serie A on the final day and suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to PSG in the UEFA Champions League Final in Munich.

Inter made a pivotal decision before the Club World Cup, where they were eliminated by Fluminense: they dismissed former coach Simone Inzaghi, who joined Al-Hilal after a successful stint, culminating in two Champions League finals and a Serie A title. Cristian Chivu, a 2010 Champions League winner, has been appointed as his successor.

Chivu previously coached the Inter youth teams and took charge of Parma last season, but his record as a manager is still unproven. The team recently played Olympiacos in their last friendly before the new season kicks off against Torino on August 25.

Doubts also loom over Chivu’s capability in managing a squad filled with aging players, particularly Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij, who are both nearing the end of their careers. Meanwhile, Inter has not signed a new defender as the transfer window nears its close, shifting focus instead on adding attacking and midfield talent.

As anticipation builds within the fanbase regarding what this season will hold for Inter, excitement surrounds the young striker Francesco Pio Esposito, who performed admirably in the recent Club World Cup after returning from offers flowing in from various European clubs. Chivu’s familiarity with Pio Esposito could play a critical role this season.