Chivu salutes Baresi and backs Stones to 'raise the level' at Inter
Quick summary
New Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu paid tribute to club legend Franco Baresi and expressed confidence that Manchester City defender John Stones would raise the level at the club.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceCristian Chivu led the tributes to Franco Baresi on the eve of Inter’s pre-season friendly against Manchester City, hailing the late Milan great as “a great icon” of the game.
According to Inter’s official channels , the head coach opened his press conference in Hong Kong, where the sides meet at the Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday, by paying his respects to Baresi, who died on Friday aged 66.
“We join the world of sport in sending our condolences to Franco Baresi’s family,” Chivu said. “Everyone who loves football has lost a great icon of this sport.”
Turning to matters on the pitch, Chivu said it was “truly a pleasure” to be preparing for the new campaign in such surroundings, even with both teams still short of full fitness after building up through a training camp in Germany.
John Stones signs for Inter (Source: inter.it) Stones raises the level of Inter’s defence, says Chivu The coach was glowing about his newest signing, John Stones, who has joined the champions on a free transfer. “I’m happy with Stones’ arrival . He is important for us for many reasons: his quality, his personality and his charisma,” Chivu said. “He raises the level of our defence.”
With a month of the window still to run and players yet to return from post-World Cup breaks, Chivu made clear his squad remains a work in progress.
“We need patience. I ask for the bar to be raised,” he said, adding that Inter would “assess the opportunities” for further reinforcements capable of taking the team to the next level.
Finally, Chivu offered warm words for Saturday’s opponents and their new manager, Enzo Maresca, who has succeeded Pep Guardiola at City. “He has already won the Championship and the Club World Cup. He is young, but he has already done very well,” Chivu said. “I think he is the right man to lead the club after Guardiola.”
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Cristian Chivu, recently appointed as Inter Milan head coach, used his introductory remarks to salute Franco Baresi, calling the iconic former captain a reference point for the club's values. Chivu also addressed speculation linking Manchester City defender John Stones with a move to Inter, stating his belief that the England international would elevate Inter's quality if the transfer materializes. The comments suggest Inter are actively pursuing Stones as a defensive reinforcement ahead of the new season.
Chance analysis
Inter appear to be strengthening defensively under their new coach Chivu, with John Stones emerging as a concrete target. If completed, this would be a high-profile Premier League-to-Serie A move, bringing a versatile, ball-playing defender into Antonio Conte's successor's system. The Baresi reference is symbolic, signaling a return to defensive identity and tradition — relevant for tactical and morale considerations.
If signed, John Stones would bolster Inter's defense significantly, while Chivu's appointment and Baresi endorsement set a tone of renewed defensive identity at the club.
Monitor Inter's defensive depth and Stones transfer status; if confirmed, it upgrades Inter's backline options and affects their Serie A and European competitiveness.