The Cristian Chivu Charm Offensive That Convinced Davide Frattesi To Snub Nottingham Forest
Davide Frattesi was wanted by Lazio and Nottingham Forest but he will now stay at Inter for the rest of the season.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 03 February 2026
LInter midfielder Davide Frattesi looked set for a late January move, with Nottingham Forest pushing hard for a deal.
The English Premier League side’s approach gathered pace over the weekend, as Inter plotted cashing in and reshaping their midfield.
However, Frattesi’s move fell through, with Inter also rejecting a late approach from Serie A rivals Lazio.
The key reason for Frattesi’s move falling through appears to have been Liverpool’s refusal to let Curtis Jones join Inter.
Now, a report has emerged discussing how Inter head coach Cristian Chivu convinced Frattesi to stay.
Davide Frattesi: what Cristian Chivu told him
Davide Frattesi has struggled for game time at Inter this season, hence the interest by Nottingham Forest.
However, with Inter failing to strike a deal over Jones, they could not afford to lose Frattesi without a replacement.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Chivu spoke to Frattesi face to face before the match against Cremonese.
Here comes Frattesi 🙌 pic.twitter.com/n7mxXAmgHC
— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) January 28, 2026
Chivu is said to have promised Frattesi more opportunities, as long as his training levels stayed high and consistent.
The report says Chivu blocked the transfer personally after that conversation, asking the midfielder to stay and fight for his place.
Frattesi made only his second Serie A start of the season at the weekend, making the XI against Cremonese.
Davide Frattesi: What happens next
The fact Inter initially entertained Davide Frattesi’s move and approached Liverpool over Curtis Jones suggests they were happy to let the Italian go.
However, in the wake of Liverpool’s refusal, Inter seemingly made a U-turn. Losing him without replacing him would have been too risky.
Frattesi will stay put at Inter, but his future beyond the end of the season remains a talking point.
He has clocked up a mere 655 minutes of soccer this season for Inter, a risible amount for a player of his calibre.
Cristian Chivu’s charm offensive and subsequent starting spot for Frattesi has proven enough to keep him until the summer.
However, if the Italian midfielder slips back onto the bench, the likes of Forest and Lazio will be circling.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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