Midfielder Piotr ZIelinski is ready to get his first Serie A minutes for Inter Milan in next weekend’s Serie A clash with Monza.
Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, report that the Pole could feature either on the left of the midfield trio or even in holding midfield.
Zielinski has yet to feature for Inter in Serie A.
The 30-year-old joined the Nerazzurri on a free transfer in the summer. He arrived after his contract with Napoli expired, ending an eight-year stay at the Partenopei.
There was certainly no doubt about the player who Inter were signing when they brought in Zielinski.
The Polish international has been one of Serie A’s most highly-regarded midfielders for the better part of a decade.
But equally it was clear that Zielinski was not going to have an easy time carving out a place for himself at Inter.
The Nerazzurri have a clear first-choice trio. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Nicolo Barella have very much cemented themselves in their roles.
Then, younger midfielders Davide Frattesi and Kristjan Asllani will be pushing for more playing time.
Piotr Zielinski To Get First Serie A Minutes For Inter Vs Monza
Zielinski was not in the Inter squad for their first match of the season away to Genoa.
That is because of a thigh strain that the former Empoli and Udinese midfielder had sustained in preseason.
And perhaps the lingering effects of that injury were part of the reason why Zielinski did not appear in subsequent matches, despite being available in the squad.
Now, however, there is no reason why Zielinski won’t start to play.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi will also have to start rotating his squad more than ever. The return of Champions League football makes that certain.
The question could be how Inzaghi is to use Zielinski.
The Pole’s main position at Napoli has been on the left of a midfield trio. That would make him a fairly natural fit in Mkhitaryan’s role at Inter.
But the 30-year-old also has plenty of experience in an attacking midfield role.
And during the international break, Zielinski has played as a deep-lying playmaker in both of Poland’s Nations League fixtures.
Given that Poland play a 3-5-2 setup like Inter, that will certainly give Inzaghi food for thought.