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Inter confirm Carvalho capture
Thursday 13 December, 2007

Inter have confirmed the signature of Brazilian attacking midfielder Daniel Carvalho from CSKA Moscow.

The 24-year-old has agreed a switch from the Russian giants and will arrive in the summer.

It is believed that the former Internacional man will put pen to paper on a four-year deal as soon as he becomes a free agent in June.

"Carvalho is a player that our scouts have been tracking forever," Inter's general manager Ernesto Paolillo stated. "He is an important figure for the future."

Carvalho is a non-EU player and may need to be sent on loan when he arrives as the Nerazzurri have a full complement of foreign players.

Reports suggest that Inter's new man is in Milan today to undergo provisional medical tests and clarify his personal terms.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/dec13k.html

Ibra: I keep getting better
Thursday 13 December, 2007

Star Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is thriving with the Nerazzurri and says he has never been happier. "Every year I get better."

The Swedish marksman has found the net nine times so far this term for the reigning champions and is becoming a talismanic figure.

"With every year and every championship I do better than the last," Ibra beamed on Sky Sport Italia. "This has been the best year of my career."

A major reason for Zlatan's success has been his impressive partnerships with fellow strikers Julio Cruz and Hernan Crespo.

"This season I have played with Cruz a lot, whereas last campaign it was Crespo more," he said.

"Crespo scored lots and now so is Cruz. This is my second year with them as teammates and the more time that passes, the better I get to know them on and off the pitch, the easier it gets.

"I get on so well with Cruz in life as well as football, but I also really like the other strikers.

"David Suazo was superb against PSV yesterday - he was the Man of the Match.

"He is growing and he just needs to learn our tactics and the way we play so that he can become one of our most important players," he concluded.

Suazo's settled at Inter
Friday 14 December, 2007

Inter hitman David Suazo is enjoying life with the Nerazzurri as he prepares to return to former side Cagliari this weekend.

The Honduran striker made his name with the Sardinians and fired his way on to Inter's shopping list with a 22-goal haul in 2005-06 and 14 last term.

Suazo hasn't found as much playing time at Inter as he would have hoped, but he shone against PSV on Wednesday and is happy to wait for his chances.

"I will be emotional at the Stadio Sant'Elia," he revealed. "But "I'm settling in with each day at Inter.

"I knew that there would be competition here, but I decided that at least I would learn something from the others.

"The captain Javier Zanetti helped me by explaining the rules of the dressing room and Roberto Mancini has taught me in a way that I can understand best."

Suazo was at the centre of controversy when he seemed to have agreed to an eleventh hour switch to Milan before signing with Inter - a choice that he doesn't regret.

"Perhaps I would have played more for Milan, but I am happy with the Nerazzurri," he insisted. "A promise was given to Massimo Moratti and life is based on words and respect.

Mancini: "Happy at Inter"
Saturday, 15 December 2007 16:25:23


APPIANO GENTILE - Part two of Roberto Mancini's Cagliari v Inter news conference:

Mancini, will you now have to choose between Marco Materazzi and Walter Samuel?
"Marco is still a bit behind. Playing regularly could become a problem on a muscular level. For the moment it could be hard for him to play two to three consecutive matches. But if we need him, he can play."

And when they are both fit?
"Like I have already said other times, all of Inter's defenders are good, but they can't all play. With the problem we have the midfielders, we can use Chivu or Burdisso in midfield. They will be rotated because we're playing every three days, so each one will have his turn. We will see. If they are all in form and we recover all our midfielders, we will give each one of them a rest in each game. Sometimes decisions depend on tactical situations - there are teams with strong headers of the ball and others with fast players. But it's better to be able to choose than have players out."

Which is the harder game? Cagliari v Inter or Torino v Roma?
"I honestly think we just have to think about our game and think about doing well. We just have to try to win, the rest doesn't count."

Would you too like to coach a national team one day?
"Who knows? But I'm happy at Inter."

Can we say that you would stay at Inter for life?
"These phrases are banal. It's like when a player scores a goal and immediately after says he wants to end his career with the shirt of the team he plays for. It's impossible to know these things. A coach's situation is always linked to results - you stay at a team if you do well, otherwise you don't stay. Also, a coach sometimes has to change after a few years, but this could happen after seven or eight years. I'm happy here, but you never know what might happen in life."

As an Italian, would you be pleased if Milan beat Boca tomorrow in the Club World Cup final?
(Smiles) "You have already asked me this question a few times... I watch football because I like watching matches. I don't support one team or another. I support Inter and I might also support Sampdoria and Lazio, two teams I played for. I only watch the others because I like watching football."

Could watching Milan tomorrow be useful ahead of the derby?
"We will train tomorrow morning. We will watch the match when we get back. Yes, it could be useful ahead of the derby. I think the Intercontinental Cup final was better before when it was just one match. It now seems like a friendship tournament. I think it's absurd to play six matches. There are only two teams who should play in the final: European champions Milan and South American champions Boca. But this is just my opinion. In the same way, I prefer the European Cup to be a direct elimination format."

Have you read the interview with Sinisa Mihajlovic who described you as a perfectionist and that sometimes this attitude makes you a pain in the neck?
"This might be true. You always try to do your job as best you can, and you can be a pain in the neck."


http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=28198&L=en

Mancini names squad for Cagliari v Inter
Saturday, 15 December 2007 16:40:28
[FOTO Saturday, 15 December 2007 16:40:28]

APPIANO GENTILE - Roberto Mancini has called up 20 players for Sunday evening's Serie A Week 16 match against Cagliari (Stadio Sant'Elia at 20:30):

Goalkeepers: 12 Julio Cesar, 22 Paolo Orlandoni, 71 Enrico Alfonso.

Defenders: 2 Ivan Cordoba, 4 Javier Zanetti, 6 Maxwell, 13 Maicon, 16 Nicolas Burdisso, 23 Marco Materazzi, 24 Nelson Rivas, 25 Walter Samuel, 26 Cristian Chivu.

Midfielders: 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 21 Santiago Solari, 30 Pelé, 31 Cesar.

Strikers: 9 Julio Ricardo Cruz, 18 Hernan Crespo, 29 David Suazo, 45 Mario Balotelli.


http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=28200&L=en&IDINI=28202

Photos: preparing for Cagliari


Saturday, 15 December 2007 16:45:48

APPIANO GENTILE - The Nerazzurri finished off their preparations for Cagliari v Inter with an afternoon training session, watched by club president Massimo Moratti:

Serie A Week 16 - 16/12/07 (19.30 UK)

Cagliari 0 - 2 Inter
Cruz 57 (I), Suazo 79 (I)
Stadio Sant'Elia

It was far from a vintage performance, but Inter surge seven points clear after Julio Cruz and David Suazo sank Cagliari 2-0.

The Nerazzurri had to do without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while Patrick Vieira, Dejan Stankovic, Olivier Dacourt, Luis Jimenez and Luis Figo remained sidelined with injury. Cagliari surprisingly dropped Italian international Pasquale Foggia in the wake of the scandal involving an attack on teammate Davide Marchini and needed something spectacular to avoid defeat after picking up one point from four games under Nedo Sonetti.

Last season this tie ended 1-1 and David Suazo was playing for the Sardinians, but returned to face them as an opponent for the first time after 94 goals in 254 games between Serie A and B over eight years. Inter were undefeated here since a 1-0 result in September 1993.

It was the home side that had the first chance, Esteban Cambiasso clearing to the edge of the box where Daniele Conti's strike skimmed the frame of the goal. Robert Acquafresca couldn't get enough power to his sliding finish and Conti's free kick was over, as Inter got off to a very sluggish start.

The Nerazzurri finally had a shot on goal after 28 minutes, Suazo holding up the ball for Hernan Crespo to sidefoot just wide from the edge of the box. A ricochet did not fall kindly for Julio Cruz following good work from Douglas Maicon.

However, a moment of magic almost broke the deadlock, as Cristian Chivu attempted an audacious strike from 30 metres that dipped to crack against the crossbar.

More Cagliari 0-2 Inter photos
Monday, 17 December 2007 12:35:46

MILAN - More Serie A Week 16 photos from the Stadio Sant'Elia in Cagliari:

Tim Cup: Mancini's squad for Reggina v Inter
Tuesday, 18 December 2007 16:53:23


APPIANO GENTILE - Roberto Mancini has called up 19 players for Wednesday's Tim Cup last sixteen first leg against Reggina (Stadio Granillo at 20:30):

Goalkeepers: 22 Paolo Orlandoni, 71 Enrico Alfonso.

Defenders: 16 Nicolas Burdisso, 23 Marco Materazzi, 24 Nelson Rivas, 25 Walter Samuel, 35 Dennis Esposito, 40 Ivan Fatic, 47 Marco Filippini.

Midfielders: 21 Santiago Solari, 30 Pelé, 31 Cesar, 37 Gabriele Puccio, 42 Ibrahim Maaroufi, 43 Daniele Pedrelli.

Strikers: [B]18 Hernan Crespo, 45 Mario Balotelli, 46 Aiman Napoli, 48 Alberto Gerbo.

some of the pictures doesn't appear...

yeah i know that, maybe the link is broken, so
sorrry

Tim Cup: Reggina 1-4 Inter
Wednesday, 19 December 2007 22:32:07


REGGIO CALABRIA - Inter's road to a fourth consecutive Tim Cup final began with a 4-1 victory over Reggina at the Stadio Granillo.

Hernan Crespo opened the scoring early on, with Mario Balotelli adding a second on the half hour.

Leonardo Pettinari halved Inter's lead shortly after half time, but Santiago Solari capped a fine performance to restore the two-goal advantage.

Balotelli completed the rout in the closing stages with his second of the game to make it a full debut to remember.

Roberto Mancini fielded a mixture of experience and youth in Reggio Calabria, handing starting debuts to Inter Primavera pair Fatic and Balotelli in a 4-4-2 formation that included Rivas and Pelé, and bringing on Puccio, Maaroufi and Napoli in the second half.

Inter were a goal to the good after 14 minutes, Hernan Crespo stealing in to head home Solari's perfectly executed right-wing corner.

Samuel, Solari and Pelé had chances from distance as the Nerazzurri imposed their superiority.

Primavera superstar Balotelli doubled the lead on 30 minutes, pouncing on the loose ball to tuck home Inter's 50th goal of the season after Novakovic parried Samuel's header from Solari's cross.

Paolo Orlandoni produced a reflex save from Pettinari as the hosts looked for a way back, but it was Inter who went closer before the break.

Crespo fired narrowly over from Cesar's left-wing centre, and Pelé tested Novakovic with a sweetly struck volley from a tight angle.

Reggina reduced the arrears five minutes after the restart when Pettinari found the net after Orlandoni failed to hold Montiel's long-range effort.

The Amaranto's optimism was short-lived as Solari converted a right-wing cross from his compatriot Burdisso to restore Inter's two-goal advantage.

Balotelli added insult to injury four minutes from time, capitalising on a defensive lapse and rounding Novakovic before sliding home.

Reggina 1-4 Inter (HT: 0-2)


http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=28235&L=en

Crespo: "Good performance"
Wednesday, 19 December 2007 23:01:02


REGGIO CALABRIA - Hernan Crespo is pleased with Inter's performance in their emphatic Tim Cup victory over Reggina.

"The most important thing is that Inter played a good game," he said. "It was an important chance for lots of the youngsters to play tonight, like Mario Balotelli who did really well and scored two goals. Everyone did well.

"The Tim Cup is very important for the squad, and having reached three consecutive finals is proof of this. It's a chance for those who play less to show themselves and gain match fitness.

"It's motivating for those who have played less."

On his own performance, the Argentine forward commented: "It's my third match in a week after a period of inactivity, partly due to a few injuries, and partly due to the remarkable form of my team-mates in attack."


http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=28236&L=en

Mancini glad to face Liverpool
Friday 21 December, 2007

Roberto Mancini insists he is happy to have drawn Liverpool in the Champions League. "It's the weaker sides on paper who are more dangerous."

Inter were paired with the 2005 winners and 2007 Finalists for the first knockout round and will face off at Anfield Road on Tuesday February 19 before the San Siro decider on March 12.

"It is a good draw," assured Mancio. "There are no weak sides in the competition now and history teaches us that when you pick those who are weaker on paper, they are the ones where you most risk tripping up.

"It is better to take on the strongest of the lot, as if you want to lift the trophy then you have to beat them all. I think this will be a battle of two great teams."

Liverpool have only met Inter once before, in the 1964-65 semi-final. The Italians lost 3-1 away, but won the second leg 3-0 and went on to lift the European Cup.

"Liverpool are a strong side, very solid with great players. They have the English mentality, but also the tactical nous of a Coach who studies and prepares for games very carefully," added Mancini.

"They are very good on home turf and have eliminated Chelsea twice as well as Juventus in recent years."

Moratti hopes for Liverpool repeat
Saturday 22 December, 2007

Massimo Moratti hopes Inter's meeting with Liverpool can have the same effect it did in 1965 - sending them on to European Cup glory.

"Liverpool bring back many happy memories," smiled the President of the 4-3 aggregate semi-final victory - the only time these two clubs have crossed paths.

"It is an interesting challenge because it is traditional. It will be a very difficult game and we know it is a large obstacle to overcome, but in the Champions League that is always the case."

The Nerazzurri had lost 3-1 in England, but overturned the result with a 3-0 home victory in 1965, going on to lift their second consecutive trophy.

"This time I hope the team does well in both Liverpool and Milan," continued Moratti.

The Reds have had mixed results against Italian clubs in recent years, beating Milan for the 2005 Final only to lose 2-1 in May.

"Everybody was expecting a difficult draw and Inter Milan are one of the top sides," said Coach Rafa Benitez.

"They have good players and experience in Europe. It is very difficult but we know the team and we have confidence in ourselves.

"All the teams are difficult to beat but we have some experience of this. Hopefully we will see another of those performances in the knockout stages."

Liverpool did not win any of their opening three group games, but rallied to squeeze through in second place.

"I think they will be worried, for sure. They know we are a good team and anything can happen in two months' time."