England defender John Stones will make his Inter Milan debut in Bari tonight, with Lautaro Martinez helping him quickly adapt to the new environment.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Stones has already felt how fast the world is changing. This morning, as he embarked on his new journey with the blue and black, he was laughing heartily with the very person who had shattered his dreams just a month ago. In the World Cup semi-final, Lautaro Martinez darted out from behind him like a hawk, his header ending Stones' and England's hopes.
Now, the Bulls are his teammates, and the English defender can rely on during his adaptation period at Appiano. Everything else takes time, but tonight in Bari against Betis, Stones will have the symbolic moment he's been waiting for: his first minute in an Inter Milan shirt. He won't start because of limited training – it won't really start until the team returns from their tour – but he'll likely come on as a substitute. Moreover, he's facing a Champions League-caliber team; the Sevilla could also be a European opponent in the future, and on the European stage, the 32-year-old John needs to showcase the experience he gained during his 10-year illustrious tenure at Manchester City.
A discovery
This debut should be viewed from a long-term perspective, especially since Stones needs patience to become a regular starter for Inter. A week later, Monza will arrive at the San Siro for their first Serie A match; he will have better fitness reserves then, but still not enough to start. In short, his integration will be gradual, as he needs to familiarize himself with a new country, a new league, and the more automated defensive combinations within a three-man defense. Inter is not in a rush, especially because in this transfer, President Marotta and Sporting Director Piero Ausilio seized the opportunity rather than passively adding players: Stones left Manchester City on a free transfer, and Oaktree, which usually doesn't sign free agents over 30, made an exception for him.
The club signed him to a two-year contract with an annual salary of €4 million, plus commissions, but this was considered still within their budget. Stones' Inter Milan career thus had a clear plan, one he co-developed with Chivu, who was also a high-level defender during his playing career. The Englishman wasn't there to play 50 games, nor to be completely exhausted in the league, Champions League, and domestic cup competitions, but rather to be used appropriately at the right time to help the team improve. Furthermore, his outstanding performance at the World Cup dispelled the last doubts about his physical condition in recent seasons: the muscle problems that had previously interrupted his career, and the long injury layoff between December of last year and February of this year, seemed to be a thing of the past. Ultimately, Inter Milan wasn't betting on the number of appearances, but on the qualities that John hadn't lost over time: his ability to read the game, his technical skills, and his calm and composed demeanor. His new signing boasts a deep defensive backline: alongside Akanji—Stones' former Manchester City teammate—there's the promising Biseck, the solid Bastoni, and Bastoni with Carlos Augusto behind him, and even the "returning" Pavard. This match in Bari will be Inter's final pre-season friendly this summer, but for Stones, it's also a new discovery; just like his recent "discovery" of Lautaro, Stones immediately understands that the stern-faced Argentine who once caused him so much pain will be the first to step up and protect him when needed.
