French Striker Returns to Training; Young Talent Experiences Muscle Fatigue But Aims for Bench
After a day of rest and travel, Inter Milan resumed training on a scorching hot pitch in North Carolina, a stark contrast to the cooler Seattle climate. The session brought mixed news regarding their attacking lineup: one player is back, but another is temporarily sidelined. While Marcus Thuram`s full return to group training is a significant boost for coach Cristian Chivu, he will be without Pio Esposito for a day. On his 20th birthday, the highly-regarded young talent experienced minor muscle discomfort and was unable to train. Fortunately, instrumental tests ruled out any lesions, and the objective is for him to be on the bench for the round of 16 match against Fluminense. The former Spezia player underwent only physiotherapy on the eve of the game. The starting forward duo against the Brazilian side is expected to be Thuram and Lautaro.
Marcus in the Heat
Despite moving the training session to the afternoon, instead of the morning slot initially planned due to the rigid FIFA calendar, the heat in North Carolina was intense. Humidity was high, and temperatures hovered around 33°C. This scorching heat accompanied Thuram`s return to the group, alleviating some concerns about Esposito. For this third leg of their American tour, Inter was welcomed by the facilities typically used by MLS side FC Charlotte. The Atrium Health Performance Park, a modern complex built two years ago, is specifically designed for soccer, spanning over 20 hectares of green fields and hosting the entire club, from the first team to numerous youth academies.
No Frattesi Return
On what was an unfortunate birthday for Pio, Chivu observed significant improvements in their primary striker, Marcus Thuram, who Esposito admirably filled in for in the last match. Thuram is now ready, having barely featured in this Club World Cup campaign, aside from a brief appearance at the end of their debut match against Monterrey in Pasadena. A hamstring strain forced him to miss two out of three games, but his leg had already started to feel looser in the final days in Seattle. Even during the team`s rest day, Thuram continued to work alongside Davide Frattesi, another injured player theoretically “recoverable” for the remainder of the World Cup (the four most severely injured players – Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Pavard, and Bisseck – have been sent back to Europe). However, the recovery timelines for the French forward and the Italian midfielder remain separate.
