Italy Star To Miss Inter Milan Serie A & Champions League Clashes Vs Juventus & Benfica

Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni will miss out on upcoming matches against Juventus and Benfica with injury.

This according to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews. Sky anticipate that the 24-year-old could return for league matches against either Napoli or Udinese.

Inter defender Bastoni had received a call-up for the Italy squad during the international break.

However, the 24-year-old did not play any part for the Azzurri as they secured a spot at EURO 2024 in qualifiers against the likes of North Macedonia and Ukraine.

The reason for this was injury. Bastoni picked up a calf problem in the first couple of days of training with Italy.

Initial medical tests indicated a muscle strain to the Inter defender’s right calf.

Therefore there has been some uncertainty regarding a recovery timeline for Bastoni.

Obviously the defender is not a player who Inter coach Simone Inzaghi will want to be without for long.

Bastoni is a key man in Inter’s back three.

And Inter face Juventus in the Derby d’Italia next weekend in their first match back from the break.

That match sees first and second in the table go head-to-head. And with just a couple points separating the Nerazzurri and the Bianconeri, it has the air of a potential title-decider.

Alessandro Bastoni Out For Juventus & Benfica Clashes

There had been some faint hope that Bastoni could be back in time to face Juventus.

But it had always looked like that would take a miracle.

And Sky confirm that there is no chance of seeing the 24-year-old on the pitch in the Derby d’Italia.

Further tests have confirmed the presence of a thigh strain serious enough that Bastoni cannot recover in time for the weekend.

And moreover, the Inter defender will also not be in the squad against Benfica.

Inter travel to Lisbon for a group stage match against the Portuguese champions.

The Nerazzurri have already secured their place in the round of sixteen. But there is still top spot in the group to play for.

After that, there is a chance of Bastoni returning against Napoli.

Inter travel to Campania to take on the current Italian champions in another match with potential title ramifications.

And Bastoni could be fit for that match. Then, if the 24-year-old is still not be fit, the likely target would be the following weekend’s match against Udinese at the San Siro.