Inter: Stankovic has returned to Milan. More minutes with Serbia than with Chivu, his future remains a puzzle

Aleksandar Stankovic has played more minutes for Serbia in this international break than he has for Inter in all competitions so far.

He has made just 15 minutes in Inter colours, spread across two matches. Yet for Serbia, despite four defeats from four, he started both the first and second legs against the Netherlands and racked up 125 minutes in total.

In the summer Stankovic pushed to stay at Inter and fight for his place, turning down every offer that came in for him at Viale della Liberazione. He knew opportunities would be limited, but there is still a big difference between limited and almost non-existent.

By the end of the break, barring surprises, Chivu will have the entire squad at his disposal. In midfield, with Calhanoglu also back, Stankovic is the seventh choice, level with Mkhitaryan.

Training with top-level players lets you see and learn things you would not pick up anywhere else. Just as true, though, a young talent born in 2005 can only really develop by getting minutes on the pitch.

Last year's breakthrough at Bruges came exactly that way, through a starting spot he won and held down on the pitch in both the league and the Champions League.

Between now and January, then, one option is to work on making sure he is ready. Another that will inevitably come into consideration is starting to test the waters over a six-month loan so he can end the 2026/2027 season playing regularly.

Stankovic has always said his dream is to play a leading role for Inter and, at the end of the season, if Calhanoglu's renewal does not go through, a real opening would appear in his position. Arriving in June 2027 ready to take over his mantle will have to be the priority for Dejan's son. In Milan or elsewhere, it will be the most important decision of his young career.