John Stones' appearances for Inter Milan have been limited to a handful of minutes; he was also kept off the pitch for around a month and a half by an injury. La Gazzetta dello Sport suggested that if Inter Milan sign a replacement for John Stones in the winter market, Cristian Chivu would have to clear a place for the new arrival in the squad, which could lead to a tougher phase for Stones that might end in his departure or the early termination of his contract.
Recent Injury Layoff
Stones has not featured for Inter Milan since 14 September, when he picked up an injury during their 5-3 win over Udinese. After the injury, he missed six Serie A matches and three Champions League encounters. Cristian Chivu named him in the squad against Como, but he stayed on the bench.
This Season's Playing Time
Stones' total playing time for Inter Milan this season is 144 minutes across four matches: 45 minutes against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, 15 minutes against Monza, 22 minutes against Cagliari, and 63 minutes against Udinese, the only game he started before the injury.
Last Season's Record
Last season John Stones played 18 matches for a total of 1,144 minutes for Inter Milan. He was out of the Serie A starting line-up from early December until the end of May. In the Champions League, his appearances were confined to the first four matches of the league phase.
Club Outlook and Report
Cristian Chivu is still counting on John Stones despite his injury problems, hoping to tap into his qualities once he is back to full fitness. If his current situation drags on into January, Inter's management could be tempted to reinforce the back line in the winter transfer window. La Gazzetta dello Sport suggested that signing a replacement would require clearing a place in the squad, leading to a tougher phase for Stones that might end in departure or early termination of his contract. The scenario has not yet reached official discussions inside the club. John Stones played as a defensive midfielder in Manchester City's Champions League triumph in 2023. Across the last five Premier League seasons, he has never broken the 25-match barrier, with totals of 14 matches, 23, 16, 11, and nine. In the current season, his tally is three league appearances.
