Inter Milan's Midfield Dilemma as Club World Cup Looms
What do you do when two of your midfield engines are out of fuel? That’s exactly the question facing Inter Milan’s recently appointed boss Cristian Chivu as he braces for the Club World Cup opener against a tricky CF Monterrey side. With fan favorite Hakan Calhanoglu sidelined by injury and doubts swirling over the fitness of Piotr Zielinski and Davide Frattesi, Chivu’s once-crowded midfield suddenly looks pretty thin.
Desperate times call for bold moves, and Chivu might place his trust in the club’s fresh face: Petar Sucic. The 21-year-old Croatian, who only just arrived from Dinamo Zagreb in a deal worth between €14 and €16.5 million, could go from meeting his new teammates to making his Inter Milan debut on the world stage in a matter of days. It’s a big ask, especially when you consider Sucic’s had barely enough time to pick out his new locker, but sometimes football gives you no choice but to roll the dice.
Reports coming out of the Nerazzurri camp suggest that Sucic hasn’t just been brought in to warm the bench. His reputation as a creative playmaker with sharp technical skills has Chivu seriously weighing him up as a starter, especially with both Kristjan Asllani and the ever-dependable Henrikh Mkhitaryan being the other realistic options.
Why Sucic Is Suddenly Key for Chivu's Plans
Sucic offers more than just young legs. He’s been tracked as a long-term option that could keep Inter’s midfield ticking for years to come. Plenty at the club see him as the eventual successor to both Mkhitaryan and Calhanoglu. That’s a lot of expectation to pile on a 21-year-old, but anyone who’s watched him at Dinamo Zagreb knows he’s comfortable slotting into a variety of midfield roles—and delivering creative sparks that Inter’s midfield sometimes lacks.
For Chivu, the situation leaves only a handful of sessions to make a final call. The coach’s preference for a trio—likely lining up with Sucic, Nicolo Barella, and veteran Mkhitaryan—could be more out of necessity than choice. While Asllani is a more defensive option and brings his own brand of stability, Sucic’s ability to press, dribble, and pick passes might be exactly what Inter need against a Monterrey team known for high-energy midfield pressing.
The Club World Cup has always been a tough stage for European giants caught in awkward phases of their season, and Inter’s current availability issues only add to the drama. But with Chivu at the helm and Sucic possibly stepping straight into the firing line, there’s a very real chance Inter fans could be witnessing the start of a new era—one where risk-taking starts paying dividends when it matters most.
For Inter Milan, the stakes are clear: survive the midfield crisis, shine on the global stage, and see whether their €16-million gamble in Sucic is ready for the big time. With kickoff fast approaching and not many cards left to play, Chivu’s trust in his new Croatian signing will be tested right away—and all eyes are already on the midfield lineup sheet.
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