Inter pose Diego threat
Tuesday 22 January, 2008

Italian champions Inter have reportedly joined Juventus in the race to sign Werder Bremen fantasista Diego.

The two Italian giants will clash in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday night, but they may have to battle it out on the transfer market for the talented Brazilian come the summer.

Diego has attracted the attention of the Old Lady this season after his 10 League goals for Werder have seen him rise to the top of the Bundesliga scoring charts.

Respected Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed today that sporting director Alessio Secco was in Germany on Monday to start talks.

However, whispers coming out of Milan today are suggesting that the Nerazzurri are ready to hijack the deal at the request of boss Roberto Mancini.

Inter will lose Luis Figo in the summer and his departure will leave a massive hole in the squad when it comes to inventiveness, a void which the 22-year-old has the potential to fill.

Meanwhile, Secco has admitted that the club are close to landing the Premiership duo of Olof Mellberg - Aston Villa's versatile defender - and Liverpool's Mohamed Sissoko.

"Mellberg is close to signing a preliminary agreement with Juventus," Secco told Italian and British journalists.

"If everything goes well, he will become a Juve player in July. There are still minor things left to discuss before he signs the deal."

While Secco seemed to rule out an immediate Mellberg arrival despite the injury to Giorgio Chiellini, he couldn't do the same when asked about the Mali youngster.

"He is a player that we are interested in," added Secco. "We haven't ruled out the possibility of him joining us in the winter transfer window. We will see."

Sissoko will be needed as Sergio Almiron is on the verge of joining Monaco and Tiago Mendes may also be sold, with Atletico Madrid the latest side said to be keen on the Portuguese flop

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jan22r.html

Cruz: "A great display by ten-man Inter"
Thursday, 24 January 2008 00:14:50



MILAN - Julio Cruz put the Nerazzurri 2-0 up against Juventus before Del Piero and Boumsong scored to force a 2-2 draw in Wednesday's Tim Cup match at the Meazza.

"Thanks for all the compliments, but what pleases me most is that Inter played a great game with ten men against eleven for almost the whole ninety minutes," the Argentine striker told Inter Channel.

"I'm disappointed about the result. We were doing very well and they managed to draw, but there's still another game to play and we'll try to win in Turin.

"It went very well with Crespo today. We worked hard to help the midfield too. I wanted to score because I hadn't managed to for a few matches."

Cruz almost snatched a late winner against Juve, his fierce strike shaving the post. "It's a pity, it would have made a perfect evening," he said.

Tim Cup: Juve hold ten-man Inter 2-2
Wednesday, 23 January 2008 23:04:20


MILAN - Ten-man Inter were held to a 2-2 draw by Juventus in the first leg of their Tim Cup quarter-final at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Julio Ricardo Cruz' second-half brace looked good for victory but Juve avoided a first defeat in thirteen games with late replies from Alessandro Del Piero and Jean Alain Boumsong.

In Mancini's 4-4-2 lineup Francesco Toldo made his first start since suffering a metatarsal injury last October, and the Italian keeper showed few signs of ring-rustiness with some vital saves.

The Bianconeri were forced into an early switch, with Trezeguet coming on for the injured Marchionni and Ranieri's men switching to a 4-3-3.

Inter were reduced to ten men after just nine minutes when Nicolas Burdisso was given an early bath for a last-man foul on Del Piero.

Juve failed to capitalise on their numerical superiority, their best chance of the first half falling to Iaquinta who forced Toldo into a diving save with a well taken free kick.

Pelé produced some flashes of brilliance after the break to light up a dreary match.

Eight minutes in, he swung in a pin-point cross for Cruz to head past Belardi.

The young Portuguese drew more applause from the Inter faithful with some breathtaking footwork in midfield.

Inter looked to have killed off the game on 74 minutes when Cruz stabbed home Cesar's precise through ball for his 14th goal of the season and 67th in 154 black and blue appearances.

But Juventus woke up in the final stages and Del Piero volleyed in a Trezeguet cross to give his team a lifeline.

Substitute Boumsong equalised six minutes later, powering his header from Palladino's corner into the roof of the net.

Cruz almost capped a virtuoso performance with a late winner, his blistering strike from just inside the box shaving the upright.

Inter 2-2 Juventus (HT: 0-0)

Mancio: We can conquer Turin
Thursday 24 January, 2008

Inter Coach Roberto Mancini was positive despite seeing his side lose a 2-0 lead in the Coppa Italia quarter-final against Juventus last night.

The League leaders were reduced to 10 men after just eight minutes when Nicolas Burdisso was sent off for a professional foul.

However, a Julio Cruz brace looked set to deliver a 2-0 win before two Juve goals in the last 11 minutes left the tie even ahead of next week's second leg in Turin.

"It's upsetting to concede two goals like that, but we played well," Mancini insisted after the final whistle.

"With a numerical disadvantage we went ahead twice and I think that should give us belief for the return leg.

"I think that qualification is within our grasp as long as we go to Turin with the same spirit that we showed this evening."

Mancini was speaking in spite of Inter's Press silence that was declared following their controversial 3-2 win over Parma last weekend.

The winners of the Derby d'Italia clash will face either Lazio or Fiorentina in the semi-finals.

The first leg of that tie takes place at the Stadio Olimpico this evening.

Inter remembers Lorenzo Bettini
Thursday, 24 January 2008 12:44:43


MILAN - Former Inter striker Lorenzo Bettini died at his home in Gavardo, Brescia province on Monday.

Born in 1931, Bettini played 26 matches for Inter from the summer of 1961 until October 1962, scoring 10 goals.

He made his debut in Inter 6-0 Atalanta on 27 August 1961 and collected his last Nerazzurri appearance in Inter 1-0 Catania on 30 September 1962, at the start of the club's Scudetto-winning 1962/63 season.

Bettini also played for Palermo, Roma, Udinese, Lazio and Modena in his long career. He scored 110 goals in 270 top-flight appearances.

F.C. Internazionale offers its condolences to the Bettini family.

Moratti marks Inter century
Saturday 26 January, 2008

Inter President Massimo Moratti celebrates the club's Centenary by looking to the future. "A serious project that can repeat what we have done and even improve."

The Nerazzurri enter their Centenary year as reigning champions of Italy with a seven-point lead at the top of the current Serie A standings.

"Do I aim to become the President with the most trophies in the history of the club? The project is a serious one to repeat what we have done in recent years and hopefully try to get something more. This isn't a dream, it's a viable plan."

Moratti had for years been derided for the millions spent on his team and the lack of silverware to show for it, picking up just one UEFA Cup.

That all changed when Roberto Mancini took the helm and the Calciopoli scandal gifted them with the 2005-06 Scudetto, while last term the title was won in record-breaking fashion.

On Friday the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza was used for a massive photo shoot, as 600 people who work with Inter were immortalised by world famous photographer Olivier Toscani.

"It was like a great big family portrait. It was a lovely idea from Toscani and it went well, even the players seemed very happy to be there and were in good spirits. You could see they were enjoying themselves.

"In the next few days we will finalise the programme of Centenary celebrations. There will certainly be something before, during and after the game against Reggina on March 8."

That fixture had originally been set for March 9, the day the club turns 100, but Inter must bring it forward to the Saturday so that they can prepare for the Champions League second leg match with Liverpool.

"We will do something in the stadium - joyful, beautiful and interesting that is based on the history of Inter. We want the whole city to participate in these celebrations.

"There will also be exhibits, theatre events, meetings with Inter Club and the various fan communities that can help us to celebrate this anniversary together. After all, it'll be difficult for us to take part in the next Centenary..."

Moratti on Inter Channel: "100 years of..."
Friday, 25 January 2008 23:06:58


APPIANO GENTILE - Approximately six hundred people gathered on the pitch at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza early on Friday afternoon for the official centenary photograph, taken by Oliviero Toscani. Six hundred people, including Massimo Moratti and his family, Marco Tronchetti Provera and the board of directors, the club's management, Roberto Mancini and the first team, all the academy teams, Inter Campus Italia and Inter Campus Worldwide children, the stadium and Inter Club staff, the scouts, and the employees of all the various areas of the club, from the headquarters at Palazzo Durini to the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti in Appiano Gentile, the Centro Sportivo Giacinto Facchetti (the home of the academy) and the warehouse staff. All at the service of one, unique passion: Inter.

Inter president Massimo Moratti gave the following interview to Inter Channel after the centenary photo:

President Moratti, it was like a photo of a family...
"Yes, a very big family. It was a very large number of people because there were all those who are part of Inter, including you at Inter Channel. It was a very nice idea by Oliviero Toscani and I think it all went very well, and I think all the players were very happy to take part. You could see they were enjoying it while the photo was being taken. It's a nice idea."

How does it feel to be the president of Inter in the centenary year?
"It's the history of Inter, and I accidentally have the honour of representing it. This is a wonderful thing, and we hope to organise things that can make the fans happy and make them proud of supporting this team."

Can you tell us anything in advance about the celebrations?
"We're defining the whole programme in these days. There will certainly be something on before, during and after the match against Reggina on the eighth of March, and not on the ninth, because the Champions League game against Liverpool has been brought forward to the following Tuesday. At the stadium we will do something nice, joyful and interesting about the history of Inter. On the same days we will also make sure the city participates actively in this anniversary. There will be exhibitions, events in theatres, meetings with Inter Clubs and the various Inter communities that will help us celebrate this event. (Smiles) We're not likely to see the next one..."

How important is the internationality of this team?
"It was born like this, as a club whose aim was to internationalise a new football team, which was Inter. I have accepted this project involuntarily or voluntarily, seeing as they all accuse us of having too many foreigners. It's a team that has always had an international fanbase. We have Inter Clubs all over the world, there is great interest in far away countries like Japan, China and Indonesia. Inter have many fans wherever you go. This is something we can see from our Internet site, which is always full of messages. We also respond to the necessity - which is also ours - to make ourselves known to them and seen by them. During the centenary we will organise things in these so-called far away countries, but actually they aren't that far away because they say everything is close now."

Inter also represents the pride of the city of Milan. The club has been awarded the Ambrogino d'Oro and the square facing the Stadio Meazza has been renamed after your father...
"I'm very pleased about these things. I believe Inter deserved the Ambrogino, and I appreciated the city of Milan's recognition for my father. I think (the city of) Milan walks arm in arm with Inter. They go forward together. Each one of us wants to feel something special in a city. I believe that Inter is a very good representation of the nice spirit of this city, and also of its constant effort and its spirit of sacrifice. I believe Inter has this spirit."

Do you ever think about becoming the most successful president in the club's history?
"I think it's important to continue to be serious day after day and try to reach the objectives in front of us. This is how you build victories. We're not thinking too much about dreams because these things come automatically and cannot be part of a project. The project is that of being serious and repeating what we have done in recent years, and maybe try to achieve a bit more. I think this is the most important thing. But I hope my father always remains the most winning president."

Mancini's squad for Udinese v Inter
Saturday, 26 January 2008 16:44:02
[FOTO Saturday, 26 January 2008 16:44:02]

APPIANO GENTILE - Roberto Mancini has called up 20 players for Sunday afternoon's Serie A Week 20 match against Udinese (Stadio Friuli at 15:00):

Goalkeepers: 1 Francesco Toldo, 12 Julio Cesar, 22 Paolo Orlandoni.

Defenders: 2 Ivan Cordoba, 4 Javier Zanetti, 6 Maxwell, 16 Nicolas Burdisso, 23 Marco Materazzi, 24 Nelson Rivas.

Midfielders: 5 Dejan Stankovic, 11 Luis Jimenez, 14 Patrick Vieira, 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 21 Santiago Solari, 30 Pelé, 31 Cesar.

Strikers: 9 Julio Ricardo Cruz, 8 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 18 Hernan Crespo, 45 Mario Balotelli.

Serie A: Udinese 0-0 Inter
Sunday, 27 January 2008 16:54:00


UDINE - Ten-man Inter were held 0-0 by Udinese at the Stadio Friuli in Serie A Week 20 - the Nerazzurri's first goalless draw since last October's trip to Palermo.

The league leaders see their advantage cut to five points as second-placed Roma edged out Palermo in Saturday evening's game.

For the second match running Inter were reduced to ten men in the early stages. Cesar, booked for a foul on Mesto in the 21st minute, was sent marching seconds later after a two-footed tackle on Pepe.

Cambiasso squandered a great chance early on, blasting over from ten yards out after latching on to Ibrahimovic's pass.

Udinese looked dangerous on the break after Cesar's dismissal but rarely troubled Inter in the opening half, with Cruz going closest to an opening goal before the break when he sent an angled low shot wide of the far post.

Inter had the better chances of a fast and furious second half at the Friuli, with Ibrahimovic narrowly missing on three occasions and having a brilliant goal ruled out for a presumed foul on Lukovic.

Argentine pair Cruz and Cambiasso also got in on the act, the striker having a low effort saved by Handanovic, and the midfielder heading wide Stankovic's pass.

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

Udinese failed to use their man advantage to effect, their best chance of the second half falling to Di Natale who swivelled in the box before volleying over.

Udinese 0-0 Inter

Udinese: 22 Handanovic; 2 Zapata, 19 Felipe, 24 Lukovic; 20 Mesto (22 Ferronetti 85), 88 Inler, 4 D'Agostino, 8 Dossena; 7 Pepe (83 Floro Flores 33), 27 Quagliarella (14 Candreva 90+1), 10 Di Natale.
Subs not used: 25 Chimenti, 6 Coda, 15 Isla, 23 Eremenko.
Coach: Pasquale Marino.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 16 Burdisso, 2 Cordoba, 23 Materazzi, 6 Maxwell; 4 Zanetti, 5 Stankovic, 19 Cambiasso (18 Crespo 84), 31 Cesar; 8 Ibrahimovic, 9 Cruz (14 Vieira 78).
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 11 Jimenez, 21 Solari, 24 Rivas, 30 Pelé.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Turin).

Booked: Cesar 21, Ibrahimovic 33, Quagliarella 49.
Sent off: Cesar 21.
http://inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=28491&L=en

Materazzi wins footballers' association award
Tuesday, 29 January 2008 00:10:50








MILAN - Marco Materazzi was presented with the Italian Footballers' Association (AIC) award for best defender in 2006/07, during a ceremony held on Monday evening.

Besides Materazzi, Inter president Massimo Moratti, vice managing director Stefano Filucchi and goalkeeper Julio Cesar also attended the event.

Cordoba expects Turin test
Tuesday 29 January, 2008

Inter defender Ivan Cordoba respects Juventus' threat but is focused ahead of tomorrow's Coppa Italia quarter-final second leg.

The Italian champions lost a two-goal lead at San Siro to draw 2-2, having played nearly the whole game with 10 men after Nicolas Burdisso's early dismissal.

Now the Nerazzurri must win in Turin to move to the semi-final stage - an undertaking that Cordoba is expecting to be tough.

"We go into this game with such great desire to get through," the Colombian insisted on the Inter Channel. "Tomorrow night's game is the kind of match everyone wants to play in.

"We know that it will be a difficult game and we also know that it will take a strong performance from us to satisfy ourselves and the fans.

"Juventus will be in front of their home fans and will want to impress them by qualifying for the next round. It will mean just as much to them as it does to us.

"They will be aggressive just as they always are in home games in the League and we will have to make the most of any space they leave us when the come forward.

"But the first leg finished 2-2 but my teammates played a great game with 10 men for nearly 90 minutes and were only unhappy that they didn't win.

"We are aware that it won't be easy, but we are going to Turin to get a result."

Tim Cup: Juventus 2-3 Inter (agg. 4-5)
Wednesday, 30 January 2008 22:55:32




TURIN - Inter edged Juventus 3-2 in a pulsating clash at the Stadio Olimpico to complete a 5-4 aggregate victory and set up a Coppa Italia semi-final meeting with Catania.

Inter Primavera's 17-year-old striker Mario Balotelli gave the Nerazzurri a dream start to the third 'derby d'Italia' of the season, controlling Maniche's ball into the box and shrugging off a challenge from Birindelli before sidefooting past Belardi for his third goal in the competition.

Juventus produced a quick reply through their captain Alessandro Del Piero, his free kick taking a deflection off the Inter wall and sailing past a stranded Francesco Toldo.

Mancini's men went close to a second in the 20th minute when Belardi tipped on to the post Nuno Maniche's thunderous long-range shot.

But it was the Bianconeri who edged in front just after the half-hour mark. Toldo tipped Stendardo's header from Del Piero's free kick on to the upright, and Vincenzo Iaquinta pounced on the loose ball to head in from close range.

Inter kept their cool in an inferno-like atmosphere and levelled before the break when Julio Cruz sent Belardi the wrong way from the spot after Salihamidzic handled in the area.

There were no signs of a second-half slowdown as both teams looked to gain the upper hand.

Stankovic headed wide Balotelli's fast cross and Cruz had a low effort blocked by Belardi, before Toldo pulled off a miraculous save to thwart Pavel Nedved.

Inter were back in front in the 54th minute when 'Supermario' Balotelli collected Stankovic's ball into the area, swivelled and thrashed his shot into the top right corner.

Claudio Ranieri threw Trezeguet and Camoranesi into the fray to give his side fresh attacking options, but Inter continued to create and Cruz missed a great chance to kill off the game, firing just wide with just Belardi to beat after Stankovic's long ball upfield.

Toldo made another brilliant intervention in the closing stages, producing a one-handed save to keep out Trezeguet's snapshot.

Serie A: Inter 1-0 Empoli
Sunday, 03 February 2008 17:00:01



MILAN - Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his nineteenth goal of the season as ten-man Inter held on for a 1-0 victory over Empoli.

The Swedish forward converted a penalty in the first half but Inter were reduced to ten men for the third time in four games when Patrick Vieira was dismissed for a second yellow.

Julio Cesar saved Saudati's penalty in the closing stages as the Nerazzurri held on for a gritty win that moves them eight points clear of Roma, 3-0 losers at Siena.

After a dull start the Week 21 fixture came alive in the 34th minute when Ibra sent Bassi the wrong way from the spot after Stankovic's shot was handballed by Vannucchi.

Six minutes later Vieira was yellow-carded for a challenge on Marianini, and within seconds the France captain was sent marching for protests.

Mancini made a tactical switch at half-time, bringing on Maxwell for Jimenez and moving Chivu into midfield.

The Nerazzurri coach was forced into a second change just after the interval, with Rivas on in place of the injured Stankovic.

Empoli dominated the opening stages of the second half as Inter adjusted, prompting Mancini to bring on counter-attack specialist Suazo for Cruz.

But the Tuscans only real threat on the Inter goal came when Pozzi forced a tipped save from Julio Cesar.

Inter relentlessly looked for a second and almost got their reward when Suazo narrowly missed after being played in by Cambiasso.

Julio Cesar pulled off more heroics seven minutes from time, saving Saudati's penalty after a foul by Materazzi.

Vieira: "Sorry to my team-mates"
Sunday, 03 February 2008 19:09:17


MILAN - Patrick Vieira explained the incident which led his sending-off against Empoli.

The French midfielder said: "I was wrong. I told the referee where to go. I'm sorry I left the team down to ten men. Fortunately we still won, and I'm happy about this.

"There's big pressure on the referees at the moment and I don't want it to be said that the referee was wrong to send me off, because it was me who made the mistake."

Mancini: "We must be more careful"
Sunday, 03 February 2008 19:02:39


MILAN - Roberto Mancini analysed his team's performance in Sunday's Serie A victory over Empoli.

He said: "Empoli defended well and we didn't manage to find openings with our strikers and half-strikers. But we were in control and we knew the goal would come sooner or later.

"We wouldn't have had any big problems if we had remained with eleven men, but we made things a bit hard for ourselves. However, I'm pleased with this hard-fought victory.

"Empoli are a good team. They created problems for us and let's not forget that they beat Milan in Milan.

"Julio Cesar's penalty save? I didn't think either of them were penalties. I was sure Julio Cesar would save it.

"Patrick made a mistake when he was sent off, and he knows this. But everything started from the penalty incident that saw us lose our serenity. An inexistent foul and a yellow card were given against us and that's when the match changed. This is wrong.

"We can't think we can play and win with ten men every Sunday, so we have to be more careful. It's the third time now.

"Unfortunately the role of referee is difficult. They are influenced too much by what the press says. The would referee much better if they listened less to the media.

"We're happy to be eight points in front of Roma but the championship is still long - there are still seventeen rounds to play.

"Everyone will have two days off now, and then we will be back to work."

Massimo Moratti said that Inter would have won in 2002 if it hadn't been for certain situations. "I think he's right," said Mancini. "Everyone should know this, and maybe Inter would have won more. Inter lost that championship, and maybe others, through no fault of their own.

"It's a different situation now though. I don't think the referees act in bad faith. Sometimes they make mistakes that have always been made in the world of football."

Julio Cesar: "Compliments to all of us"
Sunday, 03 February 2008 18:11:54]




MILAN - Julio Cesar pulled off some fine saves and kept out Saudati's penalty to keep intact Inter's lead against Empoli and earn himself Sky Italia's man of the match award.

"These are three important points because Roma lost in Siena," said the Brazilian goalkeeper.

"For their penalty I told myself that I had to save it at all costs because it was very important for our season. Saving a penalty is like scoring a goal. I'm happy it went like this.

"It's not easy with ten men, my team-mates did well. The most important thing is to stay calm and play well in all our matches until the end. Compliments to all of us.

"The championship is still long. We just have to think about ourselves."

http://inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=28565&L=en&IDINI=28569

Photos: Inter 1-0 Empoli
Sunday, 03 February 2008 17:19:12

MILAN - Photos of the Nerazzurri in action against Empoli:

Vieira handed two-match ban
Tuesday, 05 February 2008 18:17:08


MILAN - The Italian Football League's disciplinary committee has disqualified Patrick Vieira for two Serie A matches and imposed a fine of 5,000 euros after his sending-off in Sunday's game against Empoli.

F.C. Internazionale will not appeal against the decision.