Defender Benjamin Pavard is ready to take his role as the first-choice starter on the right of the Inter Milan back three.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
Pavard did not feature for Inter in their surprise Serie A loss against Sassuolo on Wednesday.
Instead, it was Matteo Darmian who started that match.
However, prior to Wednesday, Pavard had played two full matches. The former Bayern Munich man started against both Real Sociedad in the Champions League and Empoli in Serie A, seeing out the full ninety minutes in both instances.
And the Frenchman is also set to start this evening away to Salernitana.
According to the Gazzetta, this evening’s start in Salerno will likely be much more the rule than the exception from now on.
The newspaper anticipate that Pavard will be clearly the first-choice starter ahead of Darmian going forward.
Benjamin Pavard To Be First-Choice At Inter Milan Going Forward
Over the summer, Inter had the task of replacing defender Milan Skriniar following the Slovakian’s move to Paris Saint-Germain.
The versatile 33-year-old veteran Darmian had done an admirable job of filling in for Skriniar last season. He started every match on Inter’s run to the Champions League final whilst the Slovakian was out injured.
But Inter needed to find a real like-for-like replacement for Skriniar.
In the end, the player the Nerazzurri went with was Pavard.
Inter spent big to bring the 27-year-old World Cup winner in from Bayern. The expectations around him are big.
And according to the Gazzetta, Pavard will feature regularly from now on.
Darmian is still an option to give Pavard a rest, undoubtedly. The Italian international is still a reliable presence in the position as he proved over the first few matches of Inter’s season.
But Pavard will be the main starter.