According to Tuesday's reports, former Inter , Torino and Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian is set to train with Bologna with a view to a potential permanent contract following an injury to Rossoblu right-back Emil Holm .
Darmian, 36, has been available as a free agent after leaving Inter at the end of his contract on June 30 earlier this year.
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 17: Matteo Darmian of FC Internazionale Milano poses for a photo with the Coppa Campioni d'Italia and Coppa Italia trophies following the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Hellas Verona FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
He had spent six years with the Nerazzurri, making 218 appearances across all competitions in a successful spell that saw him walk away with three Serie A titles, three from the Coppa Italia, medals, three from the Supercoppa Italiana and two Champions League runners-up medals.
Darmian bid farewell to Inter supporters in a long Instagram post over the summer, but did not formally announce that he would be calling it a day on his playing career, despite the fact that he will be 37 in December.
The first half of his 2025-26 season was hampered by a calf injury, which kept him out of action for 19 consecutive matches across all competitions, which limited him to a total of just nine competitive appearances last term. He had appeared in 49 matches across all competitions in 2024-25.
MUNICH, GERMANY – APRIL 08: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates Marcus Thuram and Matteo Darmian during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between FC Bayern München and FC Internazionale Milano at Fussball Arena Muenchen on April 08, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
According to reports over the summer, Darmian had several offers from Serie A sides , reportedly including Sassuolo , Udinese , Monza and Venezia, as well as an offer to join the Inter coaching or youth staff. However, after five matches of the 2026-27 Serie A season, he still remains available as a free agent.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio , Darmian is set to begin training with Bologna on a trial basis in the coming days following the news that right-back Holm requires surgery and could miss around four months of action after suffering a hamstring injury during Sweden 's recent Nations League victory over Romania.
Bologna staff will use their coming training sessions to make their assessments on the veteran defenders' physical condition after going three months without a club.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 19: Raffaele Palladino Head Coach of Bologna FC looks on during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and Torino FC at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on September 19, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
It has been a disappointing start to the 2026-27 season for Bologna, who are currently in 18th place in the table after picking up just two points from their first five league matches.
They became the second Serie A club to make a managerial change in 2026-27, giving Domenico Tedesco his marching orders just four games and one point into his Rossoblu career, and replacing him with Raffaele Palladino, who drew 1-1 at home with Torino in his first match in charge .
