At the pre-season training camp in Donaueschingen, the Romanian head coach has used the opening days of work to take a close look at players who have come through Inter's youth ranks, while the club's hierarchy continues working to deliver the reinforcements he has requested.
Pre-season began without the new faces Chivu had hoped to have available, particularly a right-sided wide player and a central defender, with delays in the market forcing a rethink of his plans. As a result, the coach has turned his attention inward to see whether a ready-made solution might already be within the squad.
Among those under consideration is Aleksandar Stankovic, who has returned to Inter following his spell in Belgium. Chivu already worked with the midfielder during his time coaching the Primavera side and knows his qualities and room for development well. The plan is to introduce him gradually into first-team rotations, using him as an option in front of the defence who could eventually share the load with Hakan Calhanoglu when the Turkish playmaker needs a rest.
Other young players have also caught the eye during the opening training sessions. Forward Mattia Mosconi, born in 2007, is considered one of the most promising talents in Inter's academy, and Chivu is understood to have already told the club he wants to avoid sending him out on loan. The idea instead is to build a gradual pathway for him, splitting his time between the Under-23 side and the first team to accelerate his development without rushing the process.
Positive signs have also come from Yanis Massolin, the French midfielder signed from Modena, who has impressed with his personality, technical quality and physical presence. Attention has additionally turned to Mattia Marello, a left-sided player born in 2008, who has shown personality and good qualities that could help him carve out a role in the squad's future hierarchy.
Chivu, more than most, understands the value of Inter Milan's youth system, having personally coached many of these players in recent years and knowing which of them might be ready to make the step up to professional football. The precedent of Francesco Pio Esposito serves as a reminder that, with trust and continuity, the academy can provide valuable resources even for a squad expected to compete for the game's biggest prizes.
With the transfer market yet to get going and supporters still waiting on fresh arrivals, Chivu continues working with the players he has at his disposal. It would not be the first time that Inter's biggest summer surprise came from within Appiano Gentile itself, without the need for a major financial outlay.