Inter Milan’s Frattesi Faces Uncertain Future Amid Newcastle Interest

omidbasir- According to reports from Sport Witness, Newcastle United expressed strong interest in signing the 26-year-old midfielder this summer, but he ultimately chose to remain with Inter Milan. However, having played fewer than 200 minutes in Serie A this season, a departure from the Nerazzurri appears likely. Tuttomercatoweb suggests that Frattesi’s opportunities in the first team are being hindered by the presence of players such as Petar Sucic and Piotr Zielinski, making a January exit ‘very likely’. Although Inter rejected Newcastle’s summer approach, the prospect of revisiting the transfer in 2026 remains open.

In August, Newcastle’s manager Eddie Howe acknowledged the need for an additional midfielder due to injuries affecting Joe Willock and Lewis Miley. He stated, “We want six midfielders, and now we are down to four. That is an issue for us, and it is a position we are looking at.”

During a tumultuous transfer window featuring the Alexander Isak saga, Newcastle eventually secured Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa. Nevertheless, this acquisition may not fully address Howe’s midfield concerns as the season progresses.

Howe further tempered expectations regarding the potential re-signing of Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, who was sold last year to address the club’s profitability and sustainability requirements. He remarked, “Sentiment never comes into it—it is always about finance. We have not had any discussions on the January window. We’re too focused on the number of games we have. That will take precedence for now. Certainly, paying fees like that (£100 million) is not something we expect to be able to do. It’s important to manage our long-term financial situation carefully. We cannot allow one transfer to unbalance that.”

While Frattesi has not been a regular starter at Inter, having last begun a match on October 4, he continues to represent the Italian national team. He featured in Italy’s recent 4-1 defeat to Norway during World Cup qualifiers. Following the match, Frattesi reflected, “It was two games in one. In the first half, there was only one team on the pitch; in the second half, we showed that we are a bit fragile. After the first goal, we fell apart. The group stage is over, and we must focus solely on the March playoffs.”

He added, “Explaining a 4-1 result is difficult, but I wouldn’t call it humiliation. They didn’t completely dominate us. It felt different on the pitch. They proved they deserved to win the group, so calling it humiliation is an exaggeration.”

As the January transfer window approaches, it remains uncertain whether Inter will consider offers for Frattesi, whose contract extends until 2028, and whether Newcastle will maintain their interest. Historically, the winter window poses challenges, with clubs often demanding inflated prices for their players. In the meantime, Inter will face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, while Newcastle prepares to take on Marseille.