Italy Veteran Could Leave Inter Milan This Summer To Make Way For Replacement | OneFootball

Francesco Acerbi could leave Inter Milan this summer in order to make way for Parma defender Giovanni Leoni.

This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews. They report that the Nerazzurri would be likelier to offload the 37-year-old than Yann Bisseck.

Inter Milan are reportedly going all-in to sign Giovanni Leoni this summer.

At nineteen years of age, the Parma defender is the player Inter have identified as the future of their backline.

If Inter are to sign Leoni, they will need to make room for him in the squad, though. There are already plenty of centre-backs in the team at the moment.

Francesco Acerbi Could Leave Inter To Make Room For Leoni

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 17: Francesco Acerbi

of FC Internazionale Milano in action during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between CF Monterrey and FC Internazionale Milano at Rose Bowl Stadium on June 17, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

There would be a couple potential candidates to make way for Leoni.

One would be for Yann Bisseck to be sold. The German has a market in the Premier League, and Inter would expect to fetch a fee of at least €35 million for his sale.

Therefore, if Inter were to sell Bisseck, then they would have the profit to invest in a deal for Leoni.

However, the Corriere dello Sport report, Inter don’t necessarily need to bring in a fee for Bisseck in order to have the cash to make a deal for Leoni.

And at 24 years of age, Bisseck is a player Inter believe can be a stalwart of their defense for many years to come.

On the other hand, Francesco Acerbi turns 38 next season. He might still be able to be a reliable defender for one or two more seasons – but he can’t turn back the clock.

Previous Inter coach Simone Inzaghi had absolute faith in Acerbi. He made the former Lazio and Sassuolo defender one of the key first-choice starters for three seasons.

But new Nerazzurri boss Cristian Chivu looks ready to show just as much faith in Stefan de Vrij as in the Italian international.

Furthermore, Chivu already has a strong working relationship with Leoni from Parma.

Therefore, offloading Acerbi to make way for Leoni looks to be well in line with Inter’s strategy of building around youth for the future.