Aleksandar Stankovic's Fight for a Place at Inter

Aleksandar Stankovic has made his choice. With Inter weighing up whether to cash in or send him out on loan, the 21-year-old midfielder has told the club he wants to stay at San Siro and fight for his place under Cristian Chivu this season.

A Treble Legacy, A New Battle

Stankovic’s surname already carries weight in Milan. He is the son of Dejan Stankovic, a key figure in Inter’s historic treble under Jose Mourinho, and he followed a familiar path through the Nerazzurri academy before being moved on last summer.

Inter sold him to Club Brugge, but the deal always felt like a pause rather than a full stop. In Belgium, the midfielder put together a standout campaign, enough to convince Inter to trigger their buy-back clause for a reported €23m. For a player formed in their own academy, it was a significant statement of faith.

His performances in Bruges – including eye-catching displays in Europe – pushed him into the conversation as one of the most promising young midfielders on the continent. Yet the question has lingered all summer: where exactly does he fit in Chivu’s crowded midfield?

A Midfield Packed With Stars

The competition is brutal. Nicolo Barella remains a pillar for both Inter and Italy. Hakan Calhanoglu continues to dictate games from deep and is a lock in the starting XI. Curtis Jones is arriving from Liverpool in a €35m move, another high-profile piece in the puzzle.

Behind them, the depth keeps coming. Petar Sucic offers power and presence. Piotr Zielinski brings refined technique and experience. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who extended his contract earlier in the summer, still provides reliability and intelligence between the lines. Andy Diouf, meanwhile, has been used all over the pitch in pre-season, even tested at right wing-back.

On paper, it is the kind of midfield that usually squeezes out a 21-year-old returning from a season abroad. Inside the club, there has been talk of an immediate resale to bank a profit, or at least a loan to guarantee regular minutes in 2026-27.

Stankovic Draws His Line

Stankovic has pushed back. According to Gianluca Di Marzio’s latest updates, the midfielder has made it clear he does not want another temporary move. Even with Jones walking through the door and established internationals ahead of him, he intends to stay and compete for a role in Chivu’s plans.

For Inter, it sets up a fascinating internal battle. For Stankovic, it is something else entirely: a chance to carve out his own place at the club where his surname is already etched into history.