Aging Italy Star Could Earn Another Season At Inter Milan With Continued Excellent Performances | OneFootball

Defender Francesco Acerbi could earn another season for himself at Inter Milan with his performances down the stretch this season.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. They note that the 37-year-old has another year on his contract, but Inter have an option to terminate it a year early.

Just a few weeks ago, it looked inevitable that Francesco Acerbi would leave Inter Milan at the end of the current season.

The former Lazio and Sassuolo defender’s quality would hardly be the reason. Acerbi remains a pivotal figure at the back for Inter. He is one of the most formidable man-marking centre-backs in Serie A, if not all of Europe.

However, Acerbi is now well into his thirties.

And more worryingly, the Italian international’s fitness has become a huge doubt this season.

Acerbi spent more than two months on the sidelines with a lingering thigh strain.

That seemed to suggest that the 37-year-old’s availability was simply no longer reliable.

Moreover, in Acerbi’s absence, Stefan de Vrij out in a string of stellar displays. Therefore, it seemed virtually a foregone conclusion that Inter would move forward with the Dutchman – an cut Acerbi loose.

The Nerazzurri did hand Acerbi a contract extension until the end of June 2026 this season. However, that deal contains an option for the club to terminate a year early.

Francesco Acerbi Could Earn Another Season At Inter Milan

In recent weeks, however, Francesco Acerbi has given Inter Milan reason to think twice.

The Italian international has added to his list of victims in terms of strikers who he has all but nullified.

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Francesco Acerbi of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 08, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The likes of Mateo Retegui, Romelu Lukaku, and Moise Kean have been unable to get the better of Acerbi and get on the scoresheet this campaign.

And in Europe, Acerbi has won his battle with Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland for the second time in the Champions League, having already done so in the 2023 final.

Therefore, even at his advanced age, Acerbi is not a player Inter would let go of lightly.

Meanwhile, over the next few weeks, Acerbi has several more difficult tests.

This evening against Udinese, there will be towering centre-forward Lorenzo Lucca.

Then, clashes with AC Milan’s Santiago Gimenez and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane beckon.

If Acerbi is as convincing in these matches as he has been for much of his entire Inter tenure, then a fourth season at the San Siro can hardly be ruled out.