Why Marcus Thuram has been playing with painkillers for a month at Inter

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Parma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 06, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Simone Inzaghi admitted that Marcus Thuram’s recent dip in form is due to an “ankle problem,” revealing that the striker has been playing with the help of painkillers and injections to support the team.

The France international has been Inter’s most prolific striker this season, but his goal-scoring has significantly dropped since the start of the year, with a recent injury further affecting his performance.

Inter’s Thuram still struggling with ankle injury

As Inzaghi explained, Thuram is still dealing with an ankle issue he first sustained on February 10, when he was forced off early in the home match against Fiorentina after limping for several minutes.

It was later confirmed that Thuram had injured his ankle, requiring rest and separate training in the following days. Inter rushed to recover him for their crucial clash at Juventus, but the attempt to get him fit quickly clearly impacted his form in the weeks that followed.

The 27-year-old missed the next game against Genoa but returned against Napoli in early March, only to be substituted 20 minutes into the second half after struggling to make an impact.

Thuram scored Inter’s opening goal against Feyenoord in the Champions League last week, his second goal in 13 appearances across all competitions in 2025. However, he appeared to be in discomfort when sprinting, indicating that his ankle problem is not fully resolved.

Inzaghi: ‘Thuram has been playing with painkillers and injections’

Inzaghi confirmed that Thuram is still ‘struggling’ with the injury and can’t ‘train as he used to’, which is why he’s been relying on painkillers and injections to play during this crucial stage of the season.

“Thuram—there’s no point hiding it—has been struggling with an issue for a month now, which causes him difficulties,” the coach said at a pre-match press conference before Inter’s Champions League clash against Feyenoord.

“He can’t train as he used to and has been playing with painkillers and injections. He never holds back and always helps us, but we have to assess the situation.

“I’d love for him to be able to do more physical work, which would mean he’s fully fit. But over the last month, he hasn’t been able to because of the issue he’s dealing with.

“I’m still deciding whether to start him or bring him off the bench tomorrow. He is an extremely important player, and his drop in form is solely due to the ankle problem he’s been dealing with. He is also a great professional.”