Official: Inter and AC Milan finalise Cassano-Pazzini swap deal

AC Milan have confirmed on their official website that they have completed the signing of Giampaolo Pazzini from Inter, while Antonio Cassano moves in the opposite direction as part of the deal.

 Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has praised Antonio Cassano and feels the flamboyant attacker could make the difference for his team.

 "Cassano is the sort of signing that can make a difference, but you don't go out of your way to look for that difference," Moratti told reporters.

 "You try to do things that can be useful for the club. We believe he can be useful to our cause and so does the coach. "It's an interesting deal. We think it's a good one because he's an entertaining player, an interesting player. We won't have to keep him in check.

 He has the personality to do that by himself. "We've already made signings this season - so early that they've been forgotten. But we've made quite a few changes to the team." “Our forwards have scored lots of goals so far and so he’d be helping them to score even more."

 Cassano underwent a medical at Inter on Tuesday before putting pen to paper.

Read more »

Inter closing in on Man city star

Nigel de Jong is one step closer to leaving Manchester City for Inter as Roberto Mancini has given the Netherlands international the green light to move on.

 The Nerazzurri already secured the services of Gaby Mudingayi from Bologna earlier this summer to add some steel to their midfield, but Andrea Stramaccioni is not impressed with the Belgian.

 The Inter coach has therefore demanded the arrival of another holding midfielder, and the 2010 Champions League winners see De Jong as the perfect addition to their squad.

 De Jong joined City from Hamburg in January 2009 and quickly became an important first-team member at the Premier League side.

 However, he is no longer a certain starter under Mancini, and the Citizens are ready to cash in on the 27-year-old.

 The Dutchman's contract with the Premier League champions is due to expire in the summer of 2013, and an offer in the region of €9 million could be enough to lure him away from City.

 Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder recently stated that De Jong would be a great signing for the Serie A giants, and the attacking midfielder has already been in touch with his compatriot to convince him that a move to Italy would be the right step.

 The Nerazzurri face stiff competition in the race for De Jong's services, though, as AC Milan are closely monitoring his situation as well.

 Even though Inter remain confident of getting their man, they have lined up Napoli's Walter Gargano as a possible alternative for De Jong, in case they miss out on the combative midfielder.

Read more »

Maicon rejects Paris Saint-Germain in hope of Real Madrid switch

Inter right-back Maicon has turned down a move to Paris Saint-Germain, as he eyes a reunion with former coach Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid.

 The 31-year-old is out of favour at the Nerazzurri, and as a result has been the subject of much speculation over the past few weeks, with the likes of PSG, Chelsea and Madrid rumoured to be interested in acquiring his services.

 The Brazilian's agent confirmed that his client feels "It is time to move on", and the player has not been included in the San Siro club's Europa League squad for their qualifying tie with Hajduk Split.

 Reports suggest Carlo Ancelotti's PSG put in a bid of around €8-10 million for the Brazil international, an offer that would have been readily accepted by Massimo Moratti as he looks to fund an offer for Sao Paulo youngster Lucas Moura.

 But Maicon is not keen on a move to the Ligue 1 side, and instead would prefer a switch to La Liga champions Madrid, or Champions League winners Chelsea.

 His contract expires at the end of next season and there has been little movement from the San Siro side in offering the player an extension.

 Maicon, who represented Monaco for two seasons before moving to the Italian giants in 2006, may even extend his contract in Lombardy, but that option, according to the reports, remains very much unlikely.

 Meanwhile, Moratti confirmed on Monday that Inter had pulled out of the race for Lucas Moura.

Read more »

Liverpool and Arsenal alerted as Afellay considers future

Liverpool and Arsenal target Ibrahim Afellay is considering his future after Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova informed the winger he would have a peripheral role at the Nou Camp next season, according to reports from Spain.

 Afellay cut his summer holiday short to seek talks with Vilanova and the new Barcelona boss, who replaced Pep Guardiola earlier this summer, has informed the Dutchman that he will be little more than a squad player next term.

 Injuries have hampered Afellay’s progress since arriving at Barcelona from PSV in January 2011 - he has managed just eight league starts in a season and a half - and the 26-year-old is now exploring options from a string of suitors.

 As earlier  revealed that the Dutchman has ruled out a switch to French club Lille as he is mindful of interest from Arsenal and Inter Milan.

 And Liverpool are also rumoured to be monitoring Afellay’s situation as Brendan Rodgers looks to bolster his side’s attacking options ahead of the new season.

Read more »

Forlan quits inter,signs three-year deal with Internacional

Brazilian side Internacional have confirmed via their official website that they have signed Diego Forlan from Inter.

 The 33-year-old Uruguayan has signed a three-year deal with the Brazilian club after the Nerazzurri agreed to terminate his contract.

 Forlan arrived at San Siro last summer as a replacement for Samuel Eto'o but failed to make his mark at the club, scoring just two goals in 22 appearances.

 The former Atletico Madrid ace is still in Milan, but will fly into Porto Alegre on Saturday - the same day Internacional will take on Cruzeiro in the Brasileiro.

 Brazilian sources claim that Forlan will earn around €2 million per annum at Colorado, which will make him one of the highest earners at the club.

Read more »

Maicon close to sealing £6million Chelsea switch

Chelsea are closing in on a £6 million deal for Inter Milan full-back Maicon, with the Brazilian's agent due in London later this week for talks.

 The Blues have made signing a new right-back a key priority this summer after veteran defender Paulo Ferreira was placed on the transfer list, and compatriot Jose Bosingwa was released at the end of his contract.

 Manager Roberto Di Matteo had drawn up a four-man shortlist of potential recruits, including Dortmund star Lukasz Piszczek, Ajax's Gregory van der Wiel, Lille's Mathieu Debuchy and Manchester United youngster Rafael da Silva.

 However, after being priced out of a move for the quintet, Di Matteo has now moved for Brazil international Maicon, who has been told he can quit Inter Milan this summer for a small fee.

 The 30-year-old has long been regarded as one of the best full-backs in European football, and is now expected to seal a move to West London in the next fortnight after Chelsea agreed a £6 million fee with Inter.

 Maicon's agent is due in England later this week to thrash out the formalities, after the player rejected interest from long-term admirers Real Madrid.

 Chelsea are due to hand Maicon a three-year-deal, with wages of around £80,000-a-week.

 Elsewhere, Chelsea are also closing in on Southampton teenager Luke Shaw, after lodging a £4 million bid for the England Under-17 international last night.

 Shaw, a talented and technical left-back who can also play in midfield, has previously been tracked by Arsenal.

Read more »

Inter Milan in talks to sign Man City midfielder

Inter Milan have entered negotiations to sign Manchester City anchorman Nigel de Jong, according to reports in Italy. 

 De Jong, who moved to City from Hamburg in 2009, managed just 11 Premier League starts last season, prompting doubts over his long-term future at the Etihad Stadium. 

The Netherlands international expressed his desire to continue his career at City last week, but they reports that Inter Milan have already entered talks over a move for the midfielder, who is valued between £6.4m and £8m. 

Inter, who are desperate for a return to Champions League football after finishing sixth last season, believe de Jong could be persuaded to move to the San Siro on the advice of international team-mate Wesley Sneijder.

Read more »

Forlan staying at Inter, says father

Diego Forlan will not leave Inter Milan in the upcoming transfer window, the player's father has suggested.

 The former Atletico Madrid man failed to make an impact at Inter after arriving in 2011, netting just two goals in 18 Serie A appearances.

 Forlan has been linked with a move to Atletico Mineiro, and both clubs confirmed that there were negotiations over a possible transfer. However, his father Pablo has all but ruled out a move away from the Giuseppe Meazza.

 "For the time being there is no negotiation with any club," Forlan senior told Inter's official website.

 "As it is now, he will remain at Inter. He has one year left on his contract with the Nerazzurri."

Read more »

Inter & AC Milan to battle it out for Manchester United midfielder

Anderson arrived from Porto in a deal worth €30 million (£25.6m) in 2007 at the same time as Nani but while the winger has gone on to become an important player at Old Trafford, the Brazilian playmaker has not progressed as hoped.

 United are prepared to cut their losses by seeking €18.5m (£15m) for the transfer of the 24-year-old, who made just 10 appearances in the Premier League last season.

 Contact has already been established with the Italian giants through a third party, with the Rossoneri having identified Anderson as a potential replacement for in-demand midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng.

 "Anderson has not kicked on as the club hoped," a source told Goal.com "With Inter and AC interested, United would certainly be willing to let him go - for the right price.

" Injuries have frequently thwarted Anderson's progress, who has never topped the 24 league appearances he made during his debut campaign under Sir Alex Ferguson.

 He missed a large portion of the 2009-10 season and the 2010 World Cup after rupturing the cruciate ligament in his left knee.

 He last represented his country at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where Brazil Under-23's side secured a bronze medal.

Read more »