Aleksandar Stankovic Stays at Inter to Compete

Aleksandar Stankovic has made his choice. With Inter weighing up whether to cash in or send him out on loan, the 21-year-old has decided he is staying at San Siro to fight for his place under Cristian Chivu.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Stankovic has no interest in another move this summer, even with Curtis Jones arriving from Liverpool in a €35m deal. Inter’s midfield is crowded, the competition is ruthless – and that is exactly the battle he wants.

From academy product to €23m return

Stankovic’s story with Inter is already unusual. The son of treble winner Dejan Stankovic came through the Nerazzurri academy, carrying a famous surname and the weight of expectation that comes with it. Inter then sold him to Club Brugge last summer, a move that looked like a clean break at the time.

Belgium changed everything. Stankovic shone in Bruges, emerging as one of the most eye-catching young midfielders in Europe. His performances convinced Inter to trigger their buy-back clause, paying a reported €23m to bring him home.

It was a statement fee. But it did not come with a guaranteed starting spot.

A stacked midfield

Chivu’s midfield board is already full of magnets. Nicolo Barella, a fixture for Italy, remains a cornerstone. Hakan Calhanoglu, Turkey’s captain, dictates the tempo and is expected to keep his place. Jones will walk into the rotation after his move from Liverpool.

Behind them, the depth is serious. Petar Sucic and Piotr Zielinski offer quality and experience. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who extended his contract earlier in the summer, still brings control and intelligence between the lines. Andy Diouf has been pushed wide at times in pre-season, even tested at right wing-back, but remains another option in the middle.

In that landscape, Stankovic could easily have chosen the safe route: a loan spell, guaranteed minutes, less pressure.

He has gone the other way.

No to a loan, no to a quick profit

Inter have considered two paths: sell Stankovic on for an immediate profit after his breakout year at Club Brugge, or loan him out to secure consistent playing time in 2026-27. Both options remain tempting from a sporting and financial point of view.

Stankovic is pushing back.

Di Marzio’s latest updates are clear: the midfielder wants to stay, compete and convince Chivu he belongs in this Inter midfield right now. Even with Jones arriving, even with the hierarchy seemingly set, he is not entertaining the idea of another temporary move.

For a club that built its recent success on depth and internal competition, that kind of mentality is exactly what Chivu will want to see. The question now is simple: in a midfield this loaded, can Stankovic turn determination into minutes?