The Polish player, who arrived from Napoli on a free transfer last summer with a contract worth $4.5 million until 2028, has only started eight times in the last season. And now…

Inter’s Zielinski has been a bit like Godot. For a year, Nerazzurri fans waited in vain in the stands, scrolling through their smartphones in search of old statements, mainly to distract themselves: “Is this really the real Piotr?”

Sarri said he had the skills of De Bruyne; Gattuso said that someone so talented and versatile “danced on the ball like no one else”; Ancelotti praised his completeness, Guidolin his “educated feet kissed by talent,” Giampaolo said “he was a phenomenon, the strongest I’ve ever coached,” while Spalletti constantly demanded the famous “vein in his neck,” because when he pulled it out, “he liked it a little better.” Inter waited for him for a whole year, but the Piotr seen and seen again in Naples, Italian champion in 2023 with three goals and nine assists, never showed up. His year at Inter was a whirlwind of bad games. The only time Inter fans caught a glimpse of the old Piotr was against Juventus, when he scored two goals against the Bianconeri. For the rest, they waited in vain, like Didi and Gogo with Godot on that deserted road.

Zielinski in limbo—  Zielinski can be considered in limbo. Chivu has a very long list of midfielders and an unknown factor linked to the formation: will he start with a two- or three-man midfield? With two attacking midfielders behind Lautaro? He tried both solutions at the World Cup. The coach spoke of fluidity, but also that the Nerazzurri midfielders “are many and strong.” Zielinski is not in an easy market: he is 31 years old, earns $4.5 million net and has a contract expiring in 2028. He is coming off a shady year marred by a couple of injuries. The latest one caused him to miss the trip to the United States. His playing time—971 minutes in the league—hasn’t been this low since the 2012-13 season. Back then, he was 19, playing in the attacking midfield and splitting his time between Udinese’s Primavera team and the first team. Benatia was in defense, Allan was in the middle, and Di Natale was up front. The coach was Guidolin, who praised his abilities. “I met him when he was 16. He arrived with his mother, and even as a kid, he used both his right and left feet with ease. A talent.” Inter could bring him back, especially since Piotr would also be useful. Two injuries—  The most classic “why keep him?” question is obvious: his versatility. In the new Inter, he could play in the middle and as an attacking midfielder. Chivu would have a quality midfielder at his disposal to play in multiple positions, even during a game, as a wild card. However, the last season gives pause for thought: Zielinski finished with two goals and three assists in 39 games, only 16 of which he started. Between 2018 and 2024, he always played more than 2,000 minutes in the league. The season just ended was the only one in which he was a “reserve”: he started eight games out of 26 appearances and suffered two nagging muscle injuries.

Frendrup in the spotlight—  That’s why Inter are considering his future, even if his contract situation doesn’t help. One of the names being kept under wraps is Morten Frendrup of Genoa, a 24-year-old Dane from Tuse, a totally different player in terms of characteristics but perhaps more useful to Chivu. Frendrup is a midfield enforcer, someone who doesn’t stand out for goals and assists but allows attacking players to operate with peace of mind from the three-quarter line up. He’s always there at the back. In Serie A, he stands out for his interceptions, ball recoveries, steals, and tackles. He would fill the only gap in the Nerazzurri midfield, namely the ability to have a ball-winner who can provide balance. Another key word that emerged from Chivu’s press conference: “I want a vertical, fluid, and aggressive team that knows how to maintain balance.” “Zielo” is a quality player: 389 games in Serie A, 44 goals, 51 assists, praise throughout Italy. There is little to discuss about his value, a little more about his impact on a team that is undergoing a revolution. Inter may not wait any longer.