Inter midfielder Federico Dimarco has been training with a bandage on, raising questions about his availability as Cristian Chivu's side prepare for their Champions League opener against Real Madrid. The 28-year-old has been one of the more consistent figures in Inter's early Serie A campaign, and his fitness status now carries weight well beyond domestic concerns.
The timing is pointed. Inter sit second in Serie A after three matches, nine points from three wins, having scored eight goals and conceded three. Chivu has built something cohesive in the early weeks of 2026-27, and Dimarco has contributed to that shape — one assist and an average rating of 7.40 across those three appearances. Losing him, or fielding him at reduced capacity, would test the squad's depth at a position where his profile is not easily replicated.
Chivu has since made his decision on Dimarco's involvement against Real Madrid, though the specifics of that call — whether the left-sided midfielder starts, is managed off the bench, or is rested entirely — were not disclosed beyond the coach resolving his doubts ahead of the fixture. What the episode does confirm is that the bandage was not merely precautionary theatre; there was a genuine decision to be made.
The broader context sharpens the stakes. Chivu stated publicly that Inter want to "write important pages in the history" of the club, framing the Madrid trip as something more than a routine group-stage fixture. Vinicius Jr, for his part, identified Inter as physically strong opponents who would cause problems — a reading that implicitly values the kind of aggressive, high-energy contributions Dimarco provides from his position.
An AI overall of 76 out of 100 reflects a player at a productive stage of his career rather than one coasting on reputation. Dimarco's Serie A numbers through three matchdays are modest in volume — one assist, no goals — but the rating suggests consistent involvement in Inter's attacking and defensive structure. The question is whether Chivu can trust that structure to hold if Dimarco's role is curtailed.
Inter's perfect domestic record gives Chivu a degree of comfort he might not otherwise have. The margin for error in Europe is narrower, and a debut against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu demands full resources. Dimarco's condition between now and kick-off will be watched closely.