Inter centre-back Milan Skriniar is fighting to prove his fitness in time to feature in the Champions League final against Manchester City, whilst also hoping to repair his damaged relationship with the club ahead of his departure this summer.
As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Slovakia international has returned to full training following surgery on a back injury in April, and could make his long-awaited return in the final Serie A match of the season, against Torino.
Skriniar has not played for Inter in the league since February, and his only other appearance since then was a 10-minute cameo in the Champions League win over Porto in mid-March, but he is vying to earn a place for the clash against Manchester City in Istanbul on June 10.
‘Traitor’ Skriniar looking to make amends
With his contract due to expire at the end of this month, Skriniar incurred the wrath of Inter supporters and the club’s hierarchy in January after rejecting an extension and making clear his desire to move on, with a switch to Paris Saint-Germain expected.
The 28-year-old particularly frustrated supporters due to the lengthy negotiations he held with Inter before deciding against extending, with contract talks beginning well before the World Cup break in November.
Meanwhile, his refusal to pen a new deal at the end of the January transfer window denied Inter the opportunity to cash in on him and secure a replacement, with the Nerazzurri now set to see him depart as a free agent.
Bowing out on a high
However, Skriniar is determined to leave the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza as a champion after a successful six-year stint with the club and is eyeing glory at the Ataturk Stadium as a moment of crowning glory before moving on.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, meanwhile, has little room for sentiment and is ready to bring Skriniar back in to the fold in order to lift the Champions League, with the Slovakian due to be given an opportunity to prove his fitness.
Whilst Inter have coped in his absence, Skriniar had been Inzaghi‘s most reliable defender and the tactician has made clear that he will call up any player who is deemed ready for the final.
For Skriniar, it could prove a fairy tale ending to a spell which has seen him make 246 appearances for Inter and win the scudetto, two Coppa Italia titles, and the Supercoppa Italiana twice.
