FOOTBALL
Posted on February 21, 2026 7:00 pm | Updated on February 21, 2026 11:30 am
Inter Milan are set to ruin the transfer plans of Arsenal. The Italian club will use a special buy-back rule to bring back young midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic from Club Brugge. This move means the 20-year-old star will not be available for Arsenal or other Premier League teams.
Who is Aleksandar Stankovic?
Aleksandar Stankovic is a talented Serbian midfielder. He is the son of Dejan Stankovic, a famous former Inter Milan player and coach. The youngster grew up in Interโs academy and was seen as a big future star. Last July, Inter sold him to Club Brugge in Belgium for around ยฃ8.7 million so he could play regular first-team football.
At Brugge, Stankovic has shone brightly. He plays as a defensive midfielder and deep-lying playmaker. He has scored important goals in the Champions League and helped his team in big matches. The scouts from many top clubs have been impressed by his calm style, smart passing and strong tackling.
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๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฬ (DM)has 75 Accurate Long Balls this season
Set Piece Specalist๐pic.twitter.com/C09u8t12zR
โ The Stat Guy (@The_Stat_Guy_10) February 9, 2026
Arsenalโs Interest Grows
Arsenal have been watching Stankovic for months. They sent scouts to Belgium regularly and stayed in touch with his club and agents at Roc Nation. The Gunners saw him as a perfect long-term option โ young, affordable and ready to grow into a key player. He could have added depth to their midfield behind stars like Declan Rice.
Chelsea and Manchester United were also interested. Everyone liked his price and potential. But Inter Milan had other ideas.
The Clever Buy-Back Clause
When Inter sold Stankovic, they added a special clause. They can buy him back for โฌ23 million (ยฃ20 million) in the first two weeks of June 2026. There is also a โฌ25 million option for 2027. This clause was not put in by accident. Inter always believed he would do well and wanted first chance to get him back.
โซ๏ธ๐ต๐ท๐ธ Inter have two buy back clauses in deal with Club Brugge for Aleksander Stankoviฤ.
โฌ23m for summer 2026, โฌ25m for summer 2027.
Inter have been closely monitoring his development in recent months. ๐๐
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โ Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 29, 2026
Marottaโs Clear Words
Inter chairman Giuseppe Marotta spoke openly about the player. He said: โHe is from a fine football family, heโs a son of the club and he is doing very well. We have the option to buy him back and we didnโt put that in the deal for no reason.โ He added that Stankovic is having a wonderful experience in Belgium and the Champions League, but it is still early to talk details.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news. He said Inter have already started planning to trigger the clause this June. Arsenal had high hopes of signing him cheaply in their transfer plans, but now they must look elsewhere.
Why This Hurts Arsenal Badly
This decision blocks Arsenalโs path completely. Stankovic would have been a smart, low-cost signing to build for the future. Now he will likely return to Inter Milan and become part of their squad. Arsenal must find other targets, which could be more expensive or harder to get.
The timing is tough too. The summer window opens soon, and Arsenal need to strengthen if they want to challenge for the Premier League title again. Losing out on Stankovic means extra work for their scouting team.
What Happens Next?
Inter can activate the clause right at the start of June. Unless something dramatic changes, Stankovic will head back to the San Siro. He has said in the past that he still follows Inter closely, so he may be happy to return.
The Future of Arsenal
For Arsenal fans, it is disappointing news. But the transfer market is full of options. The club will now focus on other young midfielders or experienced players who can help Mikel Artetaโs team right away. This story shows how buy-back clauses can protect big clubsโ best young talents. For Arsenal, the search continues.
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