Inter Milan
the Nerazzurri Elite.

Inter Milan First-Team Squad

Serie A champions in 2025/26, Cristian Chivu’s Nerazzurri are led by captain and talisman Lautaro Martínez, with Marcus Thuram alongside him in attack and a world-class spine of Barella, Çalhanoğlu and Bastoni. Summer additions Manuel Akanji, Petar Sučić and Ange-Yoan Bonny freshen the champions’ squad.

Squad correct as of the summer 2026 window, which runs until 1 September — numbers and personnel may change. Follow every Inter fixture and prediction at AI Pro Prediction and our Champions League predictions hub.

Inter Milan: A Complete Guide to the Nerazzurri

Origins and Identity

Football Club Internazionale Milano was founded on 9 March 1908, born from a split with AC Milan. A group of members broke away specifically because they wished to field foreign players alongside Italians, and it is from this founding principle of openness to the world that the club takes its name — Internazionale. That spirit of internationalism has remained central to the club’s identity for over a century, and Inter proudly point to it as a defining value that sets them apart.

Playing in their famous black-and-blue stripes, the club is universally known as the Nerazzurri (the black and blues) and also as Il Biscione (the grass snake), after the serpent that features on the club’s crest and is a historic symbol of the city of Milan. Inter share the iconic San Siro — officially the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — with their bitter city rivals AC Milan, and the ground is one of the great cathedrals of world football. Inter hold the unique distinction of being the only Italian club never to have been relegated from Serie A, having competed in the top flight in every single season since the league’s inception.

A Storied History

Inter’s history is rich with triumph. The club won its first Italian championship in 1910 and has remained one of the dominant forces in Italian football ever since. The Nerazzurri have now won the Serie A title on twenty-one occasions, a haul that places them among the most successful clubs in the history of Italian football and reflects more than a century of sustained excellence at the highest level of the game.

The club enjoyed one of its most celebrated eras in the 1960s under the legendary Argentine-Italian coach Helenio Herrera. His side, dubbed La Grande Inter, dominated both Italy and Europe, playing a tactically sophisticated brand of football built on the famous ‘catenaccio’ defensive system allied to devastating counter-attacks. Inspired by stars such as Sandro Mazzola, Giacinto Facchetti and Luis Suárez, Herrera’s Inter won back-to-back European Cups in 1964 and 1965, establishing the club as a genuine continental superpower.

From the Nineties to the Mancini and Special Era

The 1990s were a period of investment and rebuilding for Inter, highlighted by the arrival of the Brazilian phenomenon Ronaldo in 1997 for a then world-record fee. Though league success proved elusive in that decade, Inter did lift the UEFA Cup in 1994 and again in 1998, the latter featuring an iconic performance from Ronaldo in the final. The Nerazzurri also became a home for some of the finest talents in world football, laying the foundations for the dominance that would follow in the new century.

Inter’s fortunes transformed dramatically in the mid-2000s. Under Roberto Mancini and then José Mourinho, the club embarked on a period of sustained domestic supremacy, winning five consecutive Serie A titles between 2006 and 2010. This era of dominance, powered by players such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Adriano and the emerging leadership of Javier Zanetti, restored Inter to the summit of Italian football and set the stage for the historic treble that would follow under Mourinho’s inspired guidance.

European Glory and the 2010 Treble

Inter have won the European Cup / Champions League three times, in 1964, 1965 and 2010. The most recent triumph is perhaps the most cherished of all, for it formed part of an unprecedented and historic achievement. In the 2009–10 season, under the masterful management of José Mourinho, Inter became the first — and to this day only — Italian club ever to win the treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League in a single season.

That extraordinary campaign was built on a formidable spine featuring goalkeeper Júlio César, defensive rock Walter Samuel, the midfield engine of Esteban Cambiasso and Wesley Sneijder, and the goals of Diego Milito, who scored both goals in the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich in Madrid. The treble stands as the crowning achievement in the club’s history and cemented Inter’s place among the true elite of European football. Mourinho’s departure immediately afterwards to Real Madrid marked the end of a golden chapter.

Recent European Adventures

Inter’s modern era has once again seen the club establish itself as a serious force in the Champions League. The Nerazzurri reached the Champions League final in 2023, narrowly losing to Manchester City in Istanbul after a spirited performance, and returned to the final again in the years that followed, underlining their re-emergence as one of Europe’s leading clubs. These runs demonstrated that Inter had rebuilt themselves into a team capable of competing with the very best on the continent, blending Italian tactical discipline with genuine attacking quality.

The experience gained from these deep European runs has been invaluable, forging a squad hardened by the biggest occasions and hungry to finally reclaim the trophy the club last lifted in 2010. For a club with Inter’s pedigree and history in the competition, the Champions League will always represent the ultimate prize, and every campaign is approached with the ambition of adding to the three European crowns already in the cabinet.

Full Honours and Achievements

Inter Milan’s trophy cabinet is one of the most decorated in Italian and European football:

• Serie A: 21 Italian league championships, among the most in the history of the competition.
• Coppa Italia: Nine Italian Cup triumphs, including the 2025–26 edition.
• UEFA Champions League / European Cup: Three-time winners (1964, 1965, 2010).
• UEFA Cup / Europa League: Three-time winners, making Inter one of few clubs to win multiple major European trophies.
• Intercontinental Cup / Club World Cup: Multiple triumphs, crowning them world champions.
• Supercoppa Italiana: A record number of Italian Super Cup wins.

This remarkable collection makes Inter one of only a handful of clubs to have won the treble, and a permanent fixture among the aristocracy of the European game. Their record across domestic and continental competition speaks to an institution built for success across generations.

Legendary Players Through the Ages

Inter have been home to some of the greatest footballers in history. The club’s all-time top scorer, Giuseppe Meazza, was so revered that the San Siro stadium bears his name. The 1960s greats Sandro Mazzola and Giacinto Facchetti became one-club icons and symbols of the Nerazzurri. In more recent decades, Inter attracted global superstars including Ronaldo Nazário — the phenomenon who lit up the San Siro in the late 1990s — Javier Zanetti, whose loyalty and longevity made him a club legend, and Diego Milito, the hero of the treble.

The club’s tradition of world-class talent continues into the present day. The current side is captained by the prolific Argentine striker Lautaro Martínez, one of the finest forwards in world football and the team’s talismanic leader, who top-scored with 17 league goals. Alongside him, established internationals such as Nicolò Barella, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Marcus Thuram form the backbone of a formidable, experienced squad capable of competing for the biggest honours.

The Derby della Madonnina and Rivalries

Inter’s fiercest rivalry is with AC Milan, contested in the Derby della Madonnina, named after the statue of the Madonna that sits atop Milan Cathedral. As both clubs share the San Siro, this is one of the few great derbies in world football played in a single stadium, transformed on derby day by breathtaking displays of choreography and colour from both sets of ultras. The fixture regularly decides the destiny of titles and European qualification, and carries immense significance for the people of Milan.

Inter also contest the Derby d’Italia with Juventus, a highly charged fixture between two of Italy’s most successful and historically significant clubs, laden with drama, controversy and title implications. These rivalries, played out in front of the club’s passionate Curva Nord support, are among the most anticipated occasions of the Italian football season and add colour and intensity to every Nerazzurri campaign.

The San Siro: A Cathedral of Football

The San Siro, officially named the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza after Inter’s legendary forward, is one of the most iconic stadiums in world football. With a capacity of around 75,000, its distinctive spiralling towers and steep, towering stands create an intimidating and unforgettable atmosphere, particularly on European nights and during the Milan derby. The stadium has hosted World Cup matches, European Cup finals and countless moments of Nerazzurri history, and remains hallowed ground for supporters of the club.

Both Inter and AC Milan have explored plans for a new stadium to secure their long-term futures, a project that would mark a new era for both clubs while preserving the extraordinary legacy of the San Siro. Whatever the future holds, the ground stands as a monument to more than a century of footballing drama and glory in the city of Milan.

Youth Development and Global Reach

Inter place significant emphasis on developing young talent through their academy, which has produced players who have gone on to represent the club and Italy at the highest level. The club’s commitment to nurturing home-grown quality complements its tradition of attracting elite international stars, in keeping with the internationalist spirit that gave Inter its very name over a century ago.

Off the pitch, Inter command one of the largest and most passionate fanbases in Italy and boast a substantial global following. The Nerazzurri brand is recognised across every continent, a reflection of the club’s rich history, its treble-winning glory and the beauty of the football it has produced through the decades. This global reach makes Inter one of the most commercially significant and widely supported clubs in world football.

Playing Style and Club Culture

Inter have long been associated with tactical sophistication and defensive solidity, a tradition dating back to the catenaccio of the Herrera era. The modern Inter, however, combine that organisational discipline with an attacking, front-foot approach that has made them one of the most complete and feared Teams in Italy and Europe. The club’s culture is built on a winning mentality and a deep connection to its internationalist roots and its passionate, global fanbase.

Off the pitch, Inter have navigated changes in ownership and the financial challenges facing Italian football, while remaining committed to competing at the very highest level. Under the stewardship of chairman Giuseppe Marotta, one of the most respected executives in the Italian game, the club has maintained its status as a genuine powerhouse, reaching two Champions League finals in recent years and consistently challenging for major honours at home and abroad.

The 2025–26 Season and the Chivu Era

The 2025–26 season was a triumphant one for Inter. Under head coach Cristian Chivu — a former Inter player and a member of the 2010 treble-winning squad — the Nerazzurri were crowned Serie A champions, securing the club’s 21st Scudetto in dominant fashion. Inter finished with 87 points, 11 clear of second-placed Napoli, having won 27 of their 38 matches, scored a league-high 89 goals and boasting an outstanding goal difference of +54, marking them out as one of the most dominant Serie A winners in recent memory.

Chivu’s side completed a domestic double by also lifting the Coppa Italia, defeating Lazio in the final at the Stadio Olimpico, with Denzel Dumfries named man of the match. Captain Lautaro Martínez led the line superbly, top-scoring in Serie A, while the collective strength and experience of the squad shone throughout the campaign. As Italian champions, Inter return to the UEFA Champions League determined to add a fourth European crown to their illustrious history. For all the latest Inter match previews, team news and score forecasts, follow our Champions League match predictions throughout the season.

Ownership, Structure and Marotta’s Vision

The modern Inter has been shaped significantly by the leadership of chairman Giuseppe Marotta, widely regarded as one of the shrewdest and most successful executives in Italian football. Marotta’s expertise in the transfer market and squad building has been central to Inter’s return to the summit, assembling a competitive squad through astute signings, free transfers and smart contract management, often operating within tighter financial constraints than some of Europe’s wealthiest clubs.

This intelligent, sustainable approach to running the club has allowed Inter to compete for and win major honours while navigating the broader financial challenges facing Italian football. The success under Cristian Chivu — a club legend from the treble-winning side now leading the team from the dugout — represents a fitting continuation of the Inter story, blending the club’s storied past with a clear vision for the future. The appointment of a figure so deeply connected to the club’s greatest triumph has resonated powerfully with the Nerazzurri faithful.

The Meaning of Inter

To understand Inter Milan is to understand more than a football club; it is to understand a philosophy born in 1908 from a desire for openness, inclusion and internationalism. The club’s founders envisioned a team that would welcome players from around the world, and that founding ideal has echoed through every era of the club’s history, from the multinational Grande Inter of the 1960s to the treble winners of 2010 and the cosmopolitan squads of today. It is a heritage the club celebrates with genuine pride.

The famous motto and the passion of the Curva Nord, the club’s historic ultras section, embody a support that is as devoted as any in world football. Through triumph and adversity, the Nerazzurri faithful have remained steadfast, filling the San Siro and following their team across Italy and Europe. This unbreakable bond between club and supporters, forged over more than a century, is the beating heart of Internazionale and the foundation upon which all of the club’s success has been built. As Inter look to the future under Chivu and Marotta, that connection remains their greatest strength.

Looking Ahead

As Inter Milan enter the 2026–27 season, the ambitions are clear: to defend their Serie A crown against a resurgent Napoli under Massimiliano Allegri and a stable Roma side, to challenge deep in the Champions League, and to build on the momentum of a superb domestic double. With Cristian Chivu building on his triumphant first full season, captain Lautaro Martínez leading the line, and a squad blending experience with quality across every department, Inter have every reason for optimism. For a club defined by its winning history and its proud internationalist identity, nothing less than a sustained challenge on every front will satisfy the demands of the passionate Nerazzurri support. Having reasserted their domestic dominance with a commanding Scudetto and a Coppa Italia double, the Nerazzurri now carry genuine belief into the new campaign, backed by a squad hardened by recent European finals and led by a coach who knows exactly what it takes to win at the very highest level. The pursuit of a fourth Champions League crown, allied to the defence of their Scudetto, will define a season in which Inter aim to reassert themselves as the dominant force in Italian football and a genuine threat on the European stage.