Inter Milan explore Mario Gila as the ideal January solution after Acerbi’s injury setback

Acerbi’s setback has reopened Inter Milan’s winter hunt for a defender

Francesco Acerbi’s injury has reopened the file concerning the arrival of a new defender in January for Inter Milan, according to Tuttosport via Fcinter1908. 

The winter transfer window is approaching, and the club is re-evaluating its plans in a department that already needed reinforcement.

The report explains that sporting director Piero Ausilio has a budget between 20 and 24 million euro (about £17m to £20m), although he is clearly reluctant to spend heavily unless a high-value opportunity emerges. That opportunity, the newspaper claims, may well be Mario Gila.

Lazio find themselves needing to sell in order to operate in the upcoming market, with Maurizio Sarri still waiting for the reinforcements he did not receive last June. 

Gila perfectly matches the profile Ausilio and his deputy Baccin have put in their sights: 25 years old, a salary of 1.1 million euro (£0.94m), and represented by Alejandro Camano, the same agent who manages Lautaro Martínez. 

He is also a player previously recommended to the club by Simone Inzaghi during his Lazio years.

Why Mario Gila matters now

Gila, under contract with Lazio until June 2027, has stalled renewal talks due to his request for a salary increase of 500,000 euro (£427k). 

For Lazio, this is a complication; for Inter Milan, it may be an opening. The price tag is expected to be around 20 million euro (£17m), which fits squarely within Ausilio’s available budget.

Beyond the numbers, Gila brings a mix of timing, anticipation, and calm distribution that has increasingly stood out in Serie A. 

Once seen merely as a depth option, he has grown into one of Lazio’s most reliable defenders, capable of playing in both a line of three and four. His ability to defend large spaces, combined with solid aerial timing, makes him a natural candidate to slot into Inzaghi’s system at Inter Milan.

For a club navigating financial pragmatism under Oaktree’s ownership, Gila represents a rare balance of age, cost efficiency, and tactical compatibility. 

As Acerbi recovers and the winter market approaches, the spotlight intensifies on a defender who might soon trade the sky-blue of Lazio for the striped suit of Inter Milan.