Roberto Gagliardini could be given a second start in as many games for Inter when they return to Serie A action at Bologna next Saturday, according to a report in the Italian media.
Corriere dello Sport’s print edition said Gagliardini was the only first-team midfielder available to Antonio Conte this week as the Nerazzurri train with a depleted squad during the international break.
Conte will only have his full squad available again on April 2, the day before Inter’s trip to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, because the international players will need to return a negative COVID-19 test before re-joining the group.
Gagliardini is therefore in contention to play against Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side, having also started Inter’s last game at Torino two weeks ago.
In addition to Inter’s international absences, Conte is also without the four players who tested positive for COVID-19 – Danilo D’Ambrosio, Samir Handanovic, Stefan de Vrij and Matias Vecino – and the injured Arturo Vidal.
Vidal is still training individually as he recovers from knee surgery and should be able to resume first-team training next week.
Conte at least has the advantage on this occasion of having kept all his South American players, after their federation postponed this month’s FIFA World Cup qualifier due to COVID-19 concerns.
Lautaro Martinez and Alexis Sanchez are therefore still at Appiano Gentile and are working to ensure they are ready for the restart next weekend.
