Chivu Rules Out Bastoni for Cagliari, Sets Short Timelines for Lautaro and Bisseck

Overview

• In his pre-match press conference, Cristian Chivu said Alessandro Bastoni is not in the squad for Cagliari due to an ankle problem after training very little over the past month.
• Chivu added that captain Lautaro Martinez is tracking a return to pitch work next week in roughly 7–8 days, while defender Yann Bisseck is targeting a comeback in the next couple of days.
• Inter will also be without midfielder Petar Sucic against Cagliari because he must serve a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.
• Protecting fitness before next week’s Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Como, Chivu is weighing notable lineup changes, including using Stefan de Vrij at the back and rotating in Carlos Augusto and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
• Inter lead Serie A by nine points with six games left, and multiple Italian outlets report the club plans to extend Chivu on higher pay with greater transfer input as summer decisions loom, including outside interest in Bastoni from Barcelona.