Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 5:47 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 5:50 p.m.
Of his five players Inter whose agreements expire on June 30 only one has been called to negotiations to continue. It's about Henrikh Mkhitaryan (37 years old), proposing to the Armenian to play one more season in the team coached by Cristi Chivu.
At the end of this season, Inter will part ways with players over 30 years old, with the exception of the midfielder who arrived on a free from AS Roma in the summer of 2023. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer (37), defenders Francesco Acerbi (38), Stefan de Vrij (34) and Matteo Darmian (36) are packed, with the Nerazzurri already looking for replacements for next season.
But as far as Mkhitaryan is concerned, there is an ongoing assessment. “Henrik is pleased with the trust Chivu has placed in him and expects news on this in the next few hours,” writes the publication Inter 1908.
Mkhitaryan has started 22 times for Inter this season
The Armenian midfielder was used by the Romanian coach for a total of 2,070 minutes, ticking 39 matches, including 22 as a starter. He scored four goals and provided two assists in Serie A plus an assist in the Coppa Italia.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan / Photo: semperinter.com
Throughout his Inter career, Henrikh Mkhitaryan made 187 appearances with 12 goals and 21 assists in all competitions. He won six trophies in four years with the team on “Giuseppe Meazza”: two Scudetti, two Cups and two Italian Supercups.
The quoted source also provides details about Stefan de Vrij: “There was also talk about the Dutchman, but at the moment no offer has been made to him by Inter”. The batting stopper is evaluating his options but is now thinking about the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Inter offers Atalanta 45 million euros for the Palestra
De Vrij came off with muscle soreness in Bologna, having been replaced by Chivu in the last league match against Inter, and is awaiting coach Ronald Koeman's announcement of his squad for the final tournament scheduled for June 11-July 19.
Atalanta's Italian international, Marco Palestra, is Cristi Chivu's big dream / Photo: Imago
In order to stay on the topic of negotiations, Inter has just taken the first step in trying to transfer Marco Palestra. The right-back, back after his 2025-26 loan at Cagliari, has been valued by the Nerazzurri club at €40 million plus performance bonuses of €5 million.
“Percassi (no – the president of Atalanta) wants to convince him to stay, with projects, guarantees, but also a salary increase (he currently has 280,000 euros)”. revealed Corriere della Sera, which announces that negotiations have only just begun.
