Inter 2025/26 Season Preview: Key Fixtures, Transfers, Starting XI & Prediction | OneFootball

Inter failed to defend their Serie A title last term as Napoli beat them to the punch in a nerve-shredding Scudetto race. After a season of broken dreams and heartbreaking upsets, a new dawn arises at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Days after Paris Saint-Germain trounced the Nerazzurri in the Champions League final, long-serving manager Simone Inzaghi announced his decision to take charge of Al-Hilal. With the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on the horizon, Inter had little room to maneuver.

After being turned down by Cesc Fabregas, the 20-time Italian champions have turned to a familiar face to fill the vacancy. Indeed, Cristian Chivu has returned to the club in a different capacity despite lacking experience in senior management.

Despite helping Parma secure top-flight survival in his first season in charge, the 44-year-old remains a gamble at this level. However, Beppe Marotta sees the 2010 treble winner as a risk worth taking. Nonetheless, Chivu’s appointment is a topic of debate.

Keen to banish unpleasant memories of last season, Inter have been among the most proactive Serie A clubs in the transfer window. Whether it will be enough to reclaim the title remains uncertain as we preview the Nerazzurri season for 2025/26.

Inter Fixtures

Chivu’s touchline debut at San Siro pits Inter against perennial mid-table dwellers Torino on the opening weekend. After Udinese’s visit to Meazza on round two, the Nerazzurri take on arch-rivals Juventus in the latest edition of the iconic Derby d’Italia at the Allianz Stadium. Mid-February in Milan will see the reverse fixture take place.

The tail-end of October brings back-to-back clashes against Roma and Napoli. Those high-stakes matches will set the stage for the eagerly awaited Derby della Madonnina against Milan on November 23. The old foes will reconvene in early March for the reverse fixture.

Inter drop the curtain on the 2025 schedule away to Atalanta before hosting Bologna on home turf at the start of the new calendar year. Napoli’s visit to Meazza in early January promises to be Inter’s sternest test at the early stage of 2026.

March could be a pivotal month for Inter’s title pursuit. Starting with a derby match against Milan, they take on Atalanta, Fiorentina, Roma, and Como in quick succession. Finally, their season concludes away to Coppa Italia winners Bologna.

Transfer Business

Unlike some recent years, Inter have returned to spend big this summer. Indeed, the San Siro heavyweights have splashed north of €75 million on strengthening their squad while fending off foreign interest in several key first-team players.

In addition to making Nicola Zalewski’s transfer from Roma permanent, Chivu’s charges have signed Petar Sucic, Luis Henrique, and Ange-Yoan Bonny. The latter two should fill the void in attack after Marko Arnautovic and Joaquin Correa severed ties with the club at the end of last season.

As for other outgoing deals, Tajon Buchanan has joined Villarreal, while Aleksandar Stankovic moved to Club Brugge. Moreover, Sebastiano Esposito and Valentin Carboni have penned loan deals at Cagliari and Genoa, respectively.

Further reinforcements toward the end of the summer look inevitable, with Inter desperate to secure Ademola Lookman’s services. Although Atalanta continue to play hardball, Chivu’s men remain confident of completing the deal after agreeing on personal terms with the player.

Starting Line-up

Inter had been synonymous with a 3-5-2 formation under Inzaghi. The 49-year-old had rarely deviated from his preferred set-up, but the Nerazzurri will line up in a slightly different system under Chivu. The Romanian has vowed to switch from Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 to a 3-4-2-1 to make Inter ‘unpredictable.’

Yann Sommer has been indispensable in goal since joining the club from Bayern Munich in 2023 and will likely be Chivu’s first choice this season. Therefore, Josep Martinez looks set to play second fiddle to the Swiss veteran for another year.

With Inter open to selling both Yann Bisseck and Benjamin Pavard, it’s hard to determine who will fill the center-back roles. However, Alessandro Bastoni and Stefan de Vrij are the front-runners to take two out of three places at the back, with Matteo Darmian emerging as an interim solution.

Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco have been outstanding on the flanks, giving Chivu no reason to question their first-team status. Despite being heavily linked with a summer exit, Hakan Calhanoglu should join forces with Nicolo Barella in the midfield’s double pivot.

Marcus Thuram could adopt a more withdrawn role in the new system, operating just behind star striker Lautaro Martinez. Chivu sees Lookman as a perfect candidate to slot next to the Frenchman. However, should Inter fail to find an agreement with Atalanta, Davide Frattesi could fill the gap.

Prediction

Regaining domestic supremacy is Inter’s highest priority this season. However, it could prove easier said than done, especially after Napoli completed several statement signings during the summer.

Chivu offers a note of unpredictability, but it’s a double-edged sword. The squad is talented but still adjusting to a new tactical identity, which could lead to inconsistent performances.

All that could derail Inter’s Scudetto chances, and we view another runner-up finish as the likeliest scenario.