After several games on the sidelines, Francesco Acerbi is ready to play again as the 38-year-old defender, absent from the Inter starting lineup since the defeat in Naples, is targeting a return from the first whistle against his former club Lazio.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Acerbi has struggled to adjust to life on the bench – something he “wasn’t used to” after years as a fixture in the back three.

Inside the club, he remains affectionately known as “the Nerazzurri Lion,” and now he’s eager to justify that nickname once more.

While recent reports have hinted at a possible departure at the end of the season, the veteran remains convinced he still has plenty to offer.

Acerbi Still Got Fight To Offer Inter Milan In Lazio Clash

Francesco Acerbi Inter Milan
MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 25: Francesco Acerbi of Internazionale looks on during the warm up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Torino FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on August 25, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

His overall performances this year have been solid, though Chivu’s high defensive line has occasionally left him exposed.

The challenge for Chivu, the paper notes, will be to preserve the team’s attacking balance without compromising defensive stability.

That could mean tailoring Inter’s collective shape to the strengths of whoever starts.

Indeed, something the Romanian coach had already floated earlier in the campaign.

For now, Inter’s tactical approach will remain built on aggression and pressing high up the pitch, but finding space for Acerbi within that framework could prove essential.

Despite his age, few defenders in Serie A can still match his one-on-one marking ability.