The Nerazzurri want the former player to bolster their wings. He is ready to return. The Dutch club will let him go if they are eliminated from Europe. And so Chivu is rooting for… Bayern

The seasons come and go, but Ivan Perisic’s life always intersects with the mighty Bayern. Back in the day, the Bavarian giants transformed the Croatian: they instilled in a laid-back personality a hunger for victory and the subtle art of achieving it, then sent a new man back to Milan—a winger wearing the helmet of a hoplite. Now that the Croatian is about to turn 37 (family party on February 2), the same German team can help Ivan in his attempt at a final, romantic howl at the moon: in agreement with the Nerazzurri, Perisic would like a last dance at Inter, the team he has perhaps loved the most. To return there, he would be willing to give up a contract running through 2027 with PSV, the dominant force in the Dutch league, which, however, has a completely different plan: the team coached by Peter Bosz, having effectively sealed the Eredivisie title—where they watch Feyenoord from a commanding 16-point lead—considers reaching the Champions League playoffs a priority and has no intention of giving up its best weapon on the wings. At the moment, despite the drubbing suffered at Newcastle, PSV still occupies 22nd place in the European rankings—were it not for the fact that the formidable Bayern Munich is set to arrive in Eindhoven on Wednesday. And so fate once again throws a curveball into Perisic’s life: if the Bavarians assert their dominance on the field and eliminate their rivals, then the Dutch club might reconsider its position and sit down at the table with Inter.

Until then, Perisic will give his all for the jersey he wears and, as befits a great former player, will challenge the German powerhouse with maximum commitment: should they be eliminated from the playoffs, however, he would push with the same determination to be released. After all, regarding this potential return to Italy, he has immediately found support from Inter: the management and coaching staff have chosen not to invest in that specific position, at least for now, while waiting to assess Denzel Dumfries’ form in early March. These months without a starting right-back have left a gaping hole on the flank, one that cannot be filled by a young talent in need of development: too little time, too many decisive matches ahead, and a high risk of a slip-up—even more so after the difficulties revealed by Luis Henrique. The choice of the Brazilian must be defended at least until the end of the season, partly because some tactical improvements have been glimpsed here and there; rather, what is needed is a fully-fledged, seasoned full-back who can support Chivu’s attacking play above all else. Even better if he is capable of keeping the center of gravity high and tearing down both flanks—something Joao Cancelo, the first target who slipped away at the last moment, would have done well. Perisic himself would also do just fine: after all, the two return targets in this transfer window follow the same logic. Other “conservative” fullbacks like Atletico’s Nahuel Molina, proposed during the recent hectic weeks, were rejected because they were considered too “low.”

the candles—  If everything goes as hoped, PSV will still need to be compensated, and a deal must be structured to make the transfer work: not easy given the mood in Eindhoven, but not impossible either thanks to the player’s support. Certainly, he would find open arms at Appiano after leaving the club with such a sour face and on a free transfer in 2022: that summer, Suning’s salary caps—especially for players over thirty—were strict, and a renewal offer didn’t arrive in time. The club was convinced it would promote Robin Gosens, who had arrived a few months earlier, even though history told a different story. At the time, Perisic chose to join Antonio Conte, who today would be a fierce rival at Napoli and who back then was eagerly seeking him out at Tottenham. In that case, too, life took a strange turn: as soon as he took over the Inter bench, Conte himself had ruled him out of the wingback role in the 3-5-2 formation due to a lack of defensive aptitude. In 2019, he went on loan to Bayern—a loan that turned into a masterclass—which allowed him to add a treble to his resume during the Covid year. Back under Conte’s guidance in 2020-21, Ivan had mastered the full-back’s movements, contributed to the 19th Scudetto, and had a stellar season under Inzaghi as well. Over time, he hasn’t lost his Balkan grit, having managed to overcome a torn ACL that sidelined him for nearly six months two seasons ago. Ivanice, a Croatian nickname derived from his first name often used at Pinetina, still feels strong enough to be a starter for Inter. He’d like to celebrate his 37th birthday once again in Milan—coincidentally, on the last day of the transfer window.