Inter head into the new Serie A season with genuine momentum after wrapping up pre-season unbeaten, capping it with a 1-0 victory over Real Betis in Bari. The only goal came from John Stones, the former Manchester City defender who arrived as one of the summer's headline signings, and his debut strike gave Cristian Chivu's side a confident send-off before the competitive campaign begins. The win built on an unbeaten pre-season run that included victories over Karlsruhe and Juventus, and draws with Manchester City and Milan.

The squad arriving at that point has been significantly reshaped. Djed Spence was confirmed as a permanent signing from Tottenham, stepping in as the right wing-back after Denzel Dumfries left for Real Madrid. Spence is a different profile to Dumfries, and the club is clear-eyed about that. Davide Frattesi completed his move to Lazio on loan with an obligation to buy, ending a saga that briefly stalled when Serie A's governing body raised financial concerns over the deal before both clubs restructured the terms. His departure, after three seasons and 122 appearances, frees up resources and squad space.

With Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram both working to be fit for the Serie A opener, and the club still weighing whether to add another forward before the window closes, there are a few loose ends to resolve. Inter host Monza at the Giuseppe Meazza on August 22 in their first league match as defending champions.