The absence of Dumfries, who underwent surgery on his left ankle on Tuesday and will be out for several weeks, forces Chivu to rely once again on Luis Henrique on the right flank. Darmian is also recovering and is in Riyadh with the team, but for the Supercoppa semifinal the coach will confirm the Brazilian full-back who arrived in the summer.
The signing from Marseille has not convinced so far. Despite the public praise from Fabregas, the player’s performances have been inconsistent: a good display against Como with an assist, but otherwise performances far from what he had shown in France with De Zerbi. The initial plan was for a gradual integration alongside Dumfries, to allow the Brazilian to settle in without excessive pressure. However, the prolonged absence of the Dutchman has disrupted these plans.
The management is now considering a move in the transfer market to strengthen the right flank. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Luis Henrique as a regular starter does not offer sufficient guarantees, especially in the medium term. Chivu also does not seem entirely convinced: before relying on the Brazilian, he had tried to adapt Carlos Augusto on the other side and had even considered using Andy Diouf in that position.
In the end, he chose the path of continuity. In the five consecutive matches as a starter, the player has not made any major mistakes and has been useful in tactical changes, facilitating the switch to a 5-4-1 formation. However, expectations remain unfulfilled in terms of quality and initiative. The Supercoppa will be a decisive test to understand whether Inter can really count on him or if urgent action in the transfer market will be needed. On this, the pink newspaper wonders: “The Supercoppa will therefore be an almost definitive exam: passed or failed?”
