The Serie A is one of Italy’s most prestigious professional league competitions for football clubs.

Founded in 1898, this year’s competition will make it 127 years the competition has been held. The 2024/2025 Series A competition kicked off on the 17th of August 2024 and expected to conclude on the 25th of May, 2025.

The 2023/2024 Series A season ended with Inter Milan as the champion after defeating AC Milan in a decisive 2-1 victory making it their 20th title. However, throughout the history of the league, Juventus has held the most championships to the tune of 36 titles. 

With the long-standing rivalry between Juventus and Inter Milan, the next Derby d’Italia to be held on the 16th of February, 2025 has raised a lot of speculation amongst fans and analysts. One notable change Inter Milan is making to its roster is welcoming three first-term stars back before Sunday’s game against Juventus. 

 Three stars are returning to Inter Milan for the Derby d’Italia

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With the match day drawing closer, Inter Milan and Juventus are making several changes to have a competing advantage.

According to a report, Alessandro Bastoni, Denzel Dumfries, and Federico Dimarco will be returning just in time to give Simone Inzaghi the needed boost for this epic Derby d’Italia.

If you haven’t been following the news, here’s what happened to these three players, and why their return is so crucial to Inter Milan. 

Alessandro Bastoni

Alessandro Bastoni is a professional Italian footballer playing center back for Serie A club, Inter Milan and Italy national team.

He joined Inter Milan from Atalanta in 2017 following a €31 million signing deal. Bastoni is a left-foot defender who started his career as a full-back player. He is notorious for meticulous ball control and efficient passes. Bastoni has several achievements to his name such as:

  • Series A Team of the Year 2020/21,2022/23, and 2023/24
  • Series A Team of the Season 2023/24
  • Series A Best Defender 2023/2024
  • Series A Player of the Month March 2024
  • UEFA Champions League Team of the Season 2022/23

Unfortunately, Bastoni had to leave in the second half of Monday night’s match against Fiorentina due to a thigh muscle strain. 

While Inter Milan won the game Bastoni took to his Instagram page to celebrate with the caption: “Solid win at San Siro, three more points in the bag” his injury left many wondering whether he will be able to continue playing in the competition.

However, reports suggest Bastoni has been working on his recovery and expected to be fit to compete in the Derby d’Italia. 

Denzel Dumfries

Dutch footballer Denzel Dumfries plays right-back and right wing-back for Serie A champions Inter Milan and the Netherlands national team.

Dumfries joined Inter Milan from PSV Eindhoven in 2021 for €12.5 million and a €2.5 million bonus. With less than four years at Inter Milan, Dumfries had made a total of 118 appearances and scored 16 goals for the club. 

In the last Derby against AC Milan, Dumfries received his fifth yellow card of the season meaning he is now suspended.

However, Dumfries’s suspension did not apply to Thursday’s match against Fiorentina. But following Fiorentina’s victory against Inter Milan three goals to nil, Dumfries had to serve his one-match ban on Monday against Fiorentina which ended in a 2-1 victory against Fiorentina.

With the suspension out of the way, Dumfries is a part of Inzaghi’s lineup for the Derby against Juventus this Sunday. 

Federico Dimarco

Federico Dimarco is a left wing-back for Inter Milan and the Italy national team. Dimarco has spent most of his years at Inter Milan with his debut for the club in 2014 at the age of 17.

After spending his first three years at Inter Milan he was sold to Sion for €3.91 million. But following his exceptional performance Inter Milan exercised their buy-back clause to bring him back for €7 million in 2018. 

Dimarco is a left-footed defender usually playing the left-back area, although he is capable of playing with his right. But he is known for his pace, eye for goal, and powerful and accurate shot from outside the penalty area. However, after his last match on Thursday against Fiorentina, Dimarco has been down with the flu. 

In a Twitter post from DAZN Italia, “Dimarco flu, He won’t be available for Inter-Fiorentina” confirms the flu lingering, and was unable to participate in Monday’s match.

However, the latest report is that he is on the verge of recovery and has regained his place in Inzaghi lineup for the Derby against Juventus.