Inter's Major Rotation Leaves Three Key Weapons Ready for Manchester City: Striker Chasing 64-Year Record

Inter Milan is making headlines for more than just their recent on-pitch performances. Italian media has been buzzing about a notable absence in the club’s documentary commemorating their 20th Scudetto victory, specifically the missing presence of president Steven Zhang. According to club director Giuseppe Marotta, Zhang was not in Italy at the time of the recording, and although he had initially planned to contribute via remote video, Italian cinemas were not equipped to accommodate such a format. However, La Repubblica stirred the pot by claiming that Zhang is eyeing a takeover of AC Milan, intending to guide both Milanese clubs to glory — an intriguing but speculative idea.

Beyond the off-field drama, it's time to focus on the football itself, as the latest Serie A action has significant implications. AC Milan cruised to a commanding 4-0 victory over Venezia, with manager Paulo Fonseca confidently proclaiming that his team will finally reverse their six-match derby losing streak when they face Inter. Meanwhile, Juventus struggled to a 0-0 draw with Empoli, a match in which former Inter youth product Sebastiano Esposito earned praise as one of the best performers on the pitch. The result opens the door for Inter to gain an early points advantage over one of their primary rivals if they can secure victory in their next fixture.

Elsewhere in Europe, Manchester City continued their dominant run, with Erling Haaland scoring twice in a 2-1 win over Brentford. The Norwegian striker has now bagged nine goals in his first four Premier League matches, sparking discussions across the continent about who, if anyone, can stop him from rewriting the record books.

Amid these headlines, Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Inter is planning a significant rotation for their upcoming Serie A match to keep key players fresh for the derby against AC Milan and the much-anticipated Champions League showdown against Manchester City. However, the paper emphasizes that this strategy hinges on securing all three points in their immediate league match. In terms of potential starters, there is some debate among Italian journalists. While Gazzetta suggests that Matteo Darmian and Denzel Dumfries are vying for a starting spot, Sky Italia’s reporting offers a slightly different take, focusing more on midfield rotations.

The question of who between Nicolò Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be rested is a key talking point. Barella has returned to training in good form following surgery to address sinusitis, while Mkhitaryan was given ample time to rest during the international break. Both players will play crucial roles in Inter's matches against Manchester City and AC Milan, but one is expected to sit out the next league match to conserve energy. Additionally, Alessandro Bastoni, who was heavily used by the Italian national team, might give way to Carlos Augusto in defense. Lautaro Martínez, who endured a grueling international duty with Argentina, may also start on the bench to recover from the travel fatigue and match exertions.

Should these rotational decisions pay off, Simone Inzaghi will enter the upcoming tough fixtures with three or four fresh legs at his disposal. Among the players likely to step up is Davide Frattesi, who enjoyed a sensational spell with Italy during the international break and is eager for more minutes at club level. Alongside him, new signing Piotr Zieliński will be itching to showcase his talents, having not yet had the opportunity to make a significant impact since joining Inter. Both players are considered starters at most Serie A clubs, and their presence emphasizes the depth that Inter has built. And depth, as pundits frequently point out, is most critical when a team faces a grueling run of matches like Inter's current schedule.

Thuram Chasing a Historic Record

A major storyline for this weekend centers on Marcus Thuram, who will be attempting to help Inter set a record that hasn’t been achieved in 64 years. The French striker has scored four goals in his first three matches, and if he manages to score again in his fourth game, he will become the second player in two consecutive seasons to score at least five goals in the first four Serie A matches. Lautaro Martínez accomplished this feat last season. The last time Inter achieved this in back-to-back seasons was in 1960 when Edvin Firmani and Antonio Angelillo both scored five or more goals in the first four games over two consecutive campaigns.

In addition to chasing history, Thuram’s recent performances have led to growing optimism about his positional transformation. When Thuram first arrived at Inter, he preferred playing on the wings, often drifting wide to create space and opportunities. Given his background as a winger, this made sense. However, Inzaghi made a deliberate tactical shift, pushing Thuram into a more central, forward role, with Martínez dropping deeper. Initially, both forwards took time to adapt, but the intent was clear: by forcing them out of their comfort zones, Inzaghi hoped to develop their overall skillsets and unlock greater potential.

So far, Thuram has vindicated his manager's decision. Last season, the Frenchman averaged 32.3 touches per 90 minutes, with 5.89 of those coming inside the opponent's penalty box. He managed 2.58 shots per game, with 0.97 hitting the target. This season, although his overall touches have decreased slightly to 30.4 per 90 minutes, his penalty area activity has nearly doubled to 10.7 touches per match. Moreover, his shot numbers have soared to 4.07 attempts per game, with 2.59 of those hitting the target. This dramatic increase in both shot and accuracy statistics has been a key factor in Thuram’s early-season goal-scoring outburst.

There are multiple reasons behind this improvement. Firstly, Taremi’s defensive work rate has eased Thuram’s burden, allowing him more freedom to focus on his attacking movements. Secondly, Pavard and others, now entering their second season with the club, have developed a stronger understanding of Inzaghi’s tactical rotations, enabling better support from the backline and midfield. The tactical shift has also allowed Thuram to occupy spaces that exploit opposition weaknesses more effectively, enhancing his offensive output.

Regardless of the precise reasons for his success, Thuram is determined to continue repaying Inzaghi’s faith in him. The forward is eager to show that a player once thought of as a wide attacker can indeed thrive as a leading frontman, proving himself capable of spearheading Inter’s offense in the upcoming challenges.

Building Depth for a Grueling Schedule

As Inter prepares for a relentless run of fixtures that will see them face Manchester City in the Champions League and then AC Milan in a fiercely contested Derby della Madonnina, their rotation policy could make or break their campaign. If the Nerazzurri can manage to secure three points in their next match while keeping key players fresh for the following games, Inzaghi will have accomplished a delicate balancing act.

In the end, Inter’s depth — epitomized by players like Frattesi, Zieliński, and Thuram — will be critical as they navigate the challenging weeks ahead. The notion of squad depth is most valuable during periods like this, where every decision on player rotation and tactical adjustments can shape the outcome of multiple competitions.

Fans, meanwhile, will be eager to see whether Thuram can continue his hot streak and etch his name into Inter’s history books. As the striker looks to break a 64-year-old record and further adapt to his new role, all eyes will be on the Nerazzurri as they aim to maximize the potential of their squad while keeping an eye on the big prize: success across Serie A and Europe.