The Inter boss decided to halt Frattesi’s exit despite his lack of game time and the Premier League side coming close to reaching an agreement
Inter decided to keep Davide Frattesi at the end of the transfer window despite coming close to reaching an agreement with Nottingham Forest, with head coach Cristian Chivu personally stepping in to block the midfielder’s departure and persuade him to remain in Milan.
Strong late interest from Nottingham Forest and Lazio ultimately came to nothing once Inter failed to secure a replacement.
Frattesi was widely expected to leave before the window closed. The Italian midfielder has struggled for consistent minutes this season, making him an attractive target for Nottingham Forest, whose pursuit intensified in the final days of January as the Serie A leaders explored the possibility of reshaping their midfield and generating funds.
Inter were initially open to a sale and even tested the market for alternatives. One of those options involved an approach to Liverpool regarding Curtis Jones.
That move was intended to soften the impact of Frattesi’s exit. Liverpool, however, made it clear they were unwilling to negotiate, leaving Inter without a viable replacement.
With no incoming midfielder secured, Inter opted against weakening their squad. Forest’s push was rejected, as was a late approach from Lazio, despite both clubs sensing an opportunity as the deadline approached.
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Chivu steps in with promise of greater involvement
According to Tuttomercatoweb, the situation changed decisively after a direct conversation between Frattesi and his coach.
The two spoke face to face ahead of Inter’s match against Cremonese, with Chivu laying out his expectations and intentions.
Chivu is reported to have assured Frattesi that his role would grow, provided his training performances remained consistent and intense.
Crucially, the coach then acted on that stance by personally blocking the transfer and asking the midfielder to stay and compete rather than leave mid-season.
The message was reinforced immediately. Frattesi was named in the starting XI against Cremonese, marking only his second Serie A start of the campaign and offering tangible evidence that Chivu was prepared to give him opportunities rather than empty assurances.
“Frattesi is an Inter player and for me he is an important figure in the squad,” Chivu said after the game.
“He has to prove it on the field and in training, because we trust his qualities. We need him in great shape for the final months of the season, so that he can give us that something extra that at times we are missing in some games.”
Lautaro Martínez and Piotr Zieliński scored one each before the break, as Inter secured a comfortable 0-2 victory against Cremonese at Stadio Giovanni Zini.