Inter Scramble for Answers: Dumfries Out, Right Flank Wide Open
The Dutchman won't be back on the pitch until March, at the earliest, after an ankle injury (and surgery) that will keep him out of action for between four and five months.
Andrea Locorotondo
Updated on 23 December 2025
Why Inter Are Struggling Without Denzel Dumfries
The squad under Christian Chivu is growing. Inter will sign at least one player in January, but also about who might replace Denzel Dumfries. So the Nerazzurri management has started looking for a replacement, focusing on the best candidate. Without his number two, Inter have lost four out of their last eight games. This shows how important Dumfries is to the team, because without him – and with Luis Henrique or Carlos Augusto playing in a position that isn’t their usual one – the team loses a lot of attacking and defensive strength.
From Norton-Cuffy to Valinčić: Inter’s Risk vs Potential Debate
Norton-Cuffy is popular, but he is not entirely convincing. This is primarily due to his defensive limitations (see, for example, Leali’s sending-off in last Sunday’s match against Dea) and the potential English auction, with many Premier League teams interested in the former Arsenal player. Then there is the ‘green’ signing, Moris Valincic, who would need time to adapt to Serie A and, like Norton-Cuffy, recover from injury. In the meantime, however, Inter’s search for a right-back is taking shape.
January is just around the corner and they could wait until next summer, but the intention is to act immediately. who is currently with Atalanta, is a former Inter defender who spent the 2022-23 season at San Siro. Apart from missing out on the Scudetto, it was a successful season, ending with the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup titles, as well as the disappointment mixed with satisfaction of losing the Champions League final in Istanbul to Manchester City.
Why a Return From Atalanta Could Suddenly Make Sense for Raoul Bellanova
In addition to Norton-Cuffy, Valincic and Touré, a new name has emerged in recent hours: Raoul Bellanova. There are a number of reasons why Bellanova could gain ground in the coming weeks. Firstly, Atalanta have plenty of options on the wings, including Zappacosta, Zalewski, Bakker, Bernasconi and Musah if necessary. Secondly, and more importantly, Marco Palestra will return to Bergamo on 1 July, where he is likely to become a regular starter. This would further congest the wings for Bellanova, who would welcome a return to Inter.
Andrea Locorotondo
Andrea Locorotondo is an Italian sports journalist. He has been living in the UK since 2015 and he is accredited by the SJA and AIPS. In addition to his role as contributor for FootItalia, he has demonstrated his ability to effectively cover a range of positions in sports journalism. Former Sportitalia TV journalist back in 2014, he is currently employed as a data journalist for Opta and Sportsdata. He is the team leader of Italian commentators at GBVision. He collaborates with EA Sports and frequently appears as a guest on Italian radio and television shows, including RDS Serie A TV and La Fiera del Calcio, where he shares his insights as a Premier League expert.
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