The Inter plans to have a quiet January are likely to go pear-shaped, as Juan Cuadrado is seriously considering having Achilles surgery.

Inter to Face Benfica Without Three Summer Signings

Inter returned to winning ways after a 2-1 home loss to Sassuolo on Wednesday with a 4-0 thrashing of Salernitana. Simone Inzaghi’s men have consolidated their spirits in the build-up to their must-win Champions League clash against Benfica. But they’ll likely lack three summer signings.

According to Calciomercato, there’s still a glimmer of hope that Juan Cuadrado could return to the fold. The veteran full-back picked up an injury while on September’s international duty with Colombia. He only made 62 minutes of football for Inter this season before taking off to South America for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers last month.

Cuadrado has returned to partial training. However, Inter won’t take any risks with the former Juventus ace. They won’t force his comeback. Neither will they rush Davide Frattesi’s recovery. The Italian midfielder had to stay on the sidelines for Saturday’s trip to Salerno due to a thigh injury.

Inzaghi has deemed Frattesi paramount to his Inter project. He was on his way to establishing himself as a regular starter before a minor fitness problem stopped him in his tracks. However, it probably won’t take long before the ex-Sassuolo starlet rejoins the group.

By contrast, Marko Arnautovic faces a lengthier spell in the treatment room. As per the initial forecast, he could be staring down the barrel of a two-month absence. Stefano Sensi’s return date remains uncertain as the injury-prone playmaker works hard toward recovery from a long-term muscle problem.

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