Internazionale Main Thread III

[Lombardiamia]

[Messinterista]

Parma: 'Mariga imminent'

Parma are on the verge of signing MacDonald Mariga from Inter, said his agent. “The announcement is imminent.”

The Kenyan midfielder is currently on loan to Real Zaragoza, but is expected to make his return to Serie A during the transfer window.

“All the Parma fans can relax, as the announcement of Mariga’s move to Parma is imminent!” wrote agent Federico Pastorello on his Twitter profile.

“You can thank Aurora Russi and Paola Notturno of the Italian Embassy in Madrid, as they got the paperwork pushed through in record time!”

It would be a return to the Stadio Tardini for Mariga, who already played for the club from 2007 to the end of January 2010.

Parma director general Pietro Leonardi also confirmed the deal is effectively done.

“We have to focus on the game with Catania on Saturday, but on Sunday we’ll try to conclude the Mariga affair, as there are some tiny red tape issues and we don’t have much time before the transfer window shuts.”

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/node/15110

[Messinterista]

Ranieri: 'Sneijder doesn't fit'

Claudio Ranieri admits Wesley Sneijder does not yet fit into Inter’s favoured tactics after a shock defeat to Lecce.

The Nerazzurri had won seven Serie A games on the trot before today’s surprise 1-0 loss at the Stadio Via del Mare.

“Today we came up against a great goalkeeper and a team that defended very well,” said the Coach.

“We then got too anxious and weren’t sharp enough in attack. We also hit the woodwork and had two goals quite rightly disallowed, so were unable to get through a difficult game.”

Sneijder started the match, but he was substituted at half-time for Ricky Alvarez, shelving the 4-3-1-2 system.

“At the moment we are better with the 4-4-2 and this is why I took off Sneijder so we went back to the system we feel is more our own. Sneijder needs to be free to roam and I cannot force him to play out wide.

“He can play in a 4-4-1-1 or a diamond midfield, but at the moment that’s not going well for us. I tried that system today, but it didn’t bear fruit.

“Now we are three points off the Champions League places and that has to be our objective. The team had a great run up until now. It gets difficult because I have to find a way of introducing Diego Forlan and Sneijder, who can give us a step up in terms of quality.”

Thiago Motta was left behind amid reports of his imminent move to Paris Saint-Germain.

“I have asked the club for Thiago Motta to stay and he will certainly remain.”

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/node/15165

[Lombardiamia]

These are must win games if we are to have CL ambitions...Lecce hadn't yet won a game on their own turf... We didn't play that bad and certainly considering the amount of goal scoring chances we had, a draw would have been a more just result, but that is football. We've won many games without actually deserving it so we can't really complain against luck this time.
What was evident yesterday is how much we missed Motta. Many lost balls in the middle, many wrong passes especially from Zanetti and no real coordination to setup decent attacks or counters. We need him in there more than anyone else. Also as Ranieri said, Sneijder doesn't fit his system. Yesterday we started off with a 4-3-1-2 formation and the defence really looked shaky. Once we returned to a more solid 4-4-2, the defence looked solid again. Had we started off this way, I beleive we would have got a better result.

[RomaShield27]

Looks like Inter are gonna sign Freddy Guarin. Loan with an option to buy.

‘Inter agree deal for Guarin’

[Lombardiamia]

Can't say I've ever followed him much, but I thought he played pretty good in some matches I've seen last year in the Europa league. Anyway, he covers a position we clearly need covered, and he's on loan..so it cant be a bad deal..

[Totally FRANK]

[red]

Guarin is more attack minded than either of them.

Strong, mobile, decent passer, good shot, but not someone I'd view as a particularly intelligent player.

[taz]

Inter have completed the signing of Brazilian defender Juan from Internacional for an undisclosed fee. The transfer has been confirmed on the official Lega Serie A website.

The Nerazzurri had long been linked with the 20-year-old defender, and have now added Juan to their ranks on a permanent basis.

Juan is a product of the Internacional youth academy and had developed into a key player at the 2010 Copa Libertadores winners since making his official debut in 2010.

The defender, who can play both as a centre-back and as a full-back, had earned himself the interest of a number of European sides, and will now continue his career in Italy.

The Brazil Under-20 star has been likened to Inter star Lucio for his style of play, and will be relishing the chance to play with his illustrious compatriot at the Giuseppe Meazza.

[kros]

I think Guarin is a good signing ... he is a strong player and a good shooter, technically valid as well. Given the fact that Zanetti and Cambiaso are not eternal this is a good signing. Motta will stay too ... I am not keem on Kuchka. Last year he was very good but this year he hasn't impressed.

Something good is Coutinho's loan to Espanyol. I believe a lot in this kid ... if he can play and gain some confidence he could be great.

[zafferano]

The goal of the year scored with a hell

http://video.repubblica.it/sport/arriva ... ref=HREV-2

[Messinterista]

Sneijder awaits Inter explanation

Wesley Sneijder expects to hold talks with Inter boss Claudio Ranieri later today regarding his substitution at Lecce.

The Dutchman started the tie at the Via Del Mare, but he was replaced at half-time in favour of Ricky Alvarez.

After the 1-0 defeat, Ranieri did admit that he does have a problem with using Sneijder in the 4-4-2 system which has aided the club’s recent revival.

“The substitution was the Coach’s decision,” the former Real Madrid man noted following the shock reverse.

“I’ll probably talk to him about it at some stage on Monday.

“I’m sorry that we lost against Lecce, but we’ll make up for it and we’ll win the next one.”

Inter are in action in midweek when they host Palermo at San Siro.

The Beneamata have dropped down to fifth in the standings – nine points behind leaders Juventus.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/node/15187

[Lombardiamia]

[Lombardiamia]

So Motta out, Palombo in? mmmmmm

[taz]

Inter have completed the loan capture of Fredy Guarin from Porto. “He’s a great player,” said boss Claudio Ranieri.

The Nerazzurri have deposited the Colombian’s contract with the Lega Calcio after he touched down in Italy yesterday.

The midfielder has arrived on a €1m loan deal and they’ll have the option to buy him outright in the summer for €11m.

“Guarin is a player that I like,” stated Ranieri. “He has an important physical presence, quality and I think he’ll give us a helping hand.

“He’s just what we need.

“Now we just need time to ensure that he gets back into form. We hope to have him with us soon so he can begin to adapt to our football and give what we want from him.”

While the South American comes in, Inter are close to selling Thiago Motta to Paris Saint-Germain for €10m.

[RomaShield27]

Is Palombo also official yet? Losing Motta is no big deal, especially if you sign both Guarin and Palombo. I'd imagine you'd be quite happy with that.

[taz]

Angelo Palombo returns to Serie A as confirmation of his loan switch from Sampdoria to Inter comes through.

The 30-year-old, who has been capped 22 times by his country, joins the Nerazzurri on an initial six-month loan deal at a reported cost of €1m, with Inter then able to make the deal permanent with a further €4m fee.

Palombo, who was relegated last season as captain of Sampdoria, arrives as an anticipated replacement for the departing Thiago Motta and finds himself in the San Siro side’s midfield alongside fellow deadline day signing Fredy Guarin.

“I am very pleased to be joining Inter, they are a great team,” commented Palombo, who signs a contract to 2015.

[taz]

Paris Saint-Germain have announced on their official website that they have signed Inter midfielder Thiago Motta.

Whilst there is no official news from the Nerazzurri on the deal, the French club have released a brief communication announcing that a Press conference will be held on Wednesday to unveil the Brazilian-born Italian international.

The player’s agent confirmed earlier on Tuesday that a deal between the clubs had been struck, which along with the San Siro side’s reported activity in the market today, suggested that it was only a matter of time before the 29-year-old’s departure was made official.

Motta is understood to have agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract on a €2m salary and leaves Inter midway through his third season with the San Siro side. Reports through the month have indicated the deal will see the Nerazzurri collect a fee in the region of €10m.

Inter Coach Claudio Ranieri, who had made it known that he wanted to keep Italian international Motta at the club, had declared today that he believed the player was going nowhere. However, he will now be working with new midfield arrivals Fredy Guarin and Angelo Palombo instead.

[RomaShield27]

So, with both Guarin and Palambo both now official, how many defensive-midfielders can Ranieri pick in his first 11? 3, 4, 5?!

[Lombardiamia]