Javier Zanetti signed contract extension until 2013
Javier Zanetti, the Inter captain, has signed a new deal which will keep him at San Siro until 2013.
Javier Zanetti
The emblematic captain had a contract that was set to expire in 2011 but he was offered a new deal.
Zanetti came at Inter in 1995 and since then he made over 700 appearences with “The Nerazzurri”. The veteran player has the advantage that he can play on almost every position at midfield or in defence. His leadership qualities, his devotion for the club and not at last his work rate and skills have earned him a new contract.
Most of the Inter fans say that he never had a bad game and indeed that rarely happens.
The 36 years old was not included into Argentina squad for the World Cup by Maradona.
Inter signed Luca Castellazzi on a free transfer
Inter announced that they completed the signing of Italian goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi on a free transfer.
Castellazzi was Sampdoria’s goalkeeper since 2005 for which he made 101 appearances. The Italian goalkeeper also played during his career for Monza, Varese, Padova, Pescara, Brescia, Reggina and Catania.
Castellazzi signed a two years contract that will expire in 30 June 2012. This is the first Inter transfer since Benitez arrival but definitely there will be more others.
Rafa Benitez the new Inter coach
Inter confirmed the agreement with Rafa Benitez.
The Spanish coach signed a two years contract this morning that will keep him at Giuseppe Meazza until 30 June 2012.
Benitez replace Mourinho who left for Real Madrid after a fantastic season in which Inter won Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League.
Benitez trained so far Liverpool 2004-20010, Valencia 2001-2004 and Tenerife 2000-2001. During this time he won Primera Division two times,Uefa Cup, Champions League,FA Cup, Uefa Super Cup and FA Community Shield.
Benitez was also awarded with the Uefa Manager of The Year in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons.
The Spanish will be officially presented on Tuesday 15 June.
Will Mourinho leave Inter?
Despite the fact that Mourinho is considering leaving Inter, Zanetti & Co have a perfect season.
After a four years break Inter took the 6th Cup in the history and other two titles are on stake. The 18th title and the fifth in a row is coming closer with only one step to go. The game with Siena seems to be an easy task for Mourinho‘s boys. The situation is similar also in Champions League where Inter will play the final against Bayern. The final against “The Bavarians” seems to be spectacular considering that Bayern already won the Bundesliga.
With all the speculations about his future, Mourinho declared that he will retire in a vacation after the final and he will think about his future. The Portuguese never hide his intentions of winning all 3 major leagues Premier League, Serie A and Primera Division but also the fact that he does not like Italian football.
Real Madrid would like to take advantage on this and take the Portuguese coach at Bernabeu.
Bringing the Champions League Cup at San Siro would be perfect for “The Nerazzurri” but also for “The Special One” who failed to win the tropy with Chelsea.
Mourinho won all league trophies from Portugal, England and Italy but also Uefa Cup and Champions League with Porto. As a coach “The Special one” has no less than 19 trophies including “The Best manager In the World”, “World Manager Of The year” or “Uefa Champions League Manager Of The Year”.
Jose set to bring to an end a 45 year wait?
As Inter move towards their record fifth Scudetto in a row, on the back of their 2-0 victory over Lazio at the weekend, it seems somewhat unusual to consider that despite their league success and the fact that the club is set to compete against FC Bayern Munich for the 2010-2011 Champions League, that Jose Mourinho could be anything less than happy at Inter.
But he is.
To be fair to Inter and their fans, Mourinho has been at pains to point out that his love for the club, its fans and the hierarchy behind the club remains stronger than ever. A fact he made pointedly in the Nou Camp when after the final whistle, he raced towards the 5000 Inter fans in the 96,000 capacity stadium and sprinted onto the Nou Camp pitch and repeatedly made the gesture that the stunning victory over Barcelona was for them to enjoy. I enjoyed it too, I had Inter to win the game as part of a nice little Asian handicap bet!
Jose’s problems tend to be more to do with his issues with the Italian FA and the Italian media. The Portuguese star has been banned several times during his tenure in Italy for his outspoken actions and words. The latest being a 3 match touchline ban for suggesting that the Italian FA were effectively shackling his team, complete with a handcuff gesture, by asking referee’s to be unduly harsh towards Inter players.
Viewed on its own, Mourinho’s continual baiting of the Italian FA and fractious relationship with the Italian media is hardly the ideal preparation for a team hoping to win its fifth Scudetto in a row and the Champions League.
At the beginning of the year, few experts would have expected it. Inter were expected to be caught and overhauled at some point by the likes of Milan, Roma and Juventus and while the former two teams have been generally involved in the title race most of the season, it is Inter who lie top of the table with just two games to go.
Few betting experts also gave Inter much of a chance of Champions League glory as a sports betting tip at the start of the season, especially given the form of Barcelona, the resurgence of a Galactico driven Real Madrid and the combined challenge from England’s top sides, but it is in Inter who will be traveling to Madrid on May 22nd to contest the final against Bayern Munich.
To have enjoyed such a successful season on the pitch against such turmoil off it, is an incredible achievement, especially when you consider that Mourinho has himself stated that he isn’t happy with life in Italy at the moment.
What could he achieve then if he was happy?
So the next couple of weeks will define Mourinho’s legacy. He seems unlikely to want to stay in Italy much longer, given his stated dislike of the Italian FA and Italian press. However he could leave Inter Milan as the most successful club in Scudetto’s recent history and as current Champions of Europe, ending a wait that stretches back 45 years to 1965 for the Inter fans.
It is also a period of transition for Inter. Their squad contains a large number of older players and soon, they will have to be moved on and replaced with younger blood. That won’t come cheap and Mourinho may not be the man who oversees that delicate operation.
But he may well be the man responsible for giving them and the Inter fans, their greatest season in living memory.
Mourinho prepares a new era at Inter
Inter dominated the last couple of seasons in Serie A, winning the scudetto three time in a row and on course for the fourth one, but they failed every time in Champions League.
jose mourinho
This was the main reason why Mancini was sacked and Mourinho was brought in at the end of last season.
Bad luck and injuries have made Inter leave Champions League early again this season and Mourinho is determined to change that.
There were speculations that Mourinho will leave Inter at the end of the season and he will return to Premier League. But the Portuguese technician has dismissed the speculations and declared that he will stay for at least four or five years at Inter and build a long term successfully team.
The first step will be to ensure the future of the key players. Cambiasso signed a new contract these days and is expected that Ibrahimovic, Samuel and others to follow.
Another important step will be to improve youth department and training facilities. Mourinho gave Santon and Balotelli as examples and declared that would like to have four or five youth players with the same potential every year.
Also another important aspect will be reducing the squad. Mourinho wants to sell the old players and bring four world class players. Currently 12 of players from Inter squad are over 30 years old. Crespo, Cruz, Materazzi, Vieira are among the players that might leave at the end of the season.
Also changing players mentality is very important, but this task is one of the favorites for Mourinho.
Why Inter could sign Aguero
After months of speculations Inter is final closer on taking Aguero from Atletico Madrid.
Although declaring several times that he is not thinking of leaving Atletico and that he feels really good and loves the club , it seems that the things have changed lately and Aguero would be willing to experience another league.
The main reason is that Abel Moreno, the coach, accused him for missing too much and that he doesn’t concentrate enough in front of the goal. It looks that this words have mad the Argentinian international and made him think about leaving. The most possible destination for him would be Inter where he is wanted by Mourinho and Moratti.
Inter already tried to take the 20 year-old forward this winter but without success. Also Aguero would be delighted to join Inter saying that he would make the best couple of attackers with Ibrahimovic.
Another decisive factor could be the strong relationship between Maradona, his father-in-law, and Massimo Moratti. On the other side one important aspect would be the amount of money that Inter should pay Atletico to convince them to let him go.
Aguero was bought by Atletico at only 18 years old from Independiente for around €20 millions and is considered one of great prospects for World football. Aguero has a minimum realease clause of €55 millions.
julio Cesar, one of the reasons for Inter success
Few people know that one of the strengths for Inter in the last couple of seasons was the Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Julio Cesar was signed by Inter in 2004 but made the first appearance for “the nerazzurri” only in 2005.
The Brazilian was brought at San Siro as a backup for much more valuable at that time Francesco Toldo.
Julio Cesar had an impressive series of evolutions and Mancini decided to offer him the starting role in Inter’s team. Since then Cesar contributed decisively to the success of the team.
The Brazilian offered security and constancy for Inter’s defence.
Besides the fact that he is a good shoot stopper Cesar is recognized for playing the ball well with his foots and more then that he likes to take penalties.
The 29 year-old goalkeeper proved again how important is for Inter this week, in Champions League match against Manchester United, having some great saves that could prove to be decisive for the qualification into the last eight.
At the moment Julio Cesar is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and if we consider his age we can say that he can remain on top for a long time.
Is Daminuta the next youngster on Mourinho’s list?
After Santon, who already established into the starting line-up for Inter, Daminuta could be the next youngster to make the big step to the first team.
Daminuta who was signed by Inter last year made some excellent games at Inter Primavera and is closely watched by Mourinho.
His last notable performance was yesterday match in Viareggio Cup, Primavera beat Vicenza 3-1, when Daminuta opened the score after a superb free-kick. Daminuta was also part of the Mourinho extended squad into the training tournament along Santon and other few talented youngsters.
If he will continue to play like that then Mourinho could give him the chance to make the debut into the first team at the end of the season. Inter are 9 points ahead Juventus and 11 ahead Milan and in the last stages they could be champions already.
Daminuta is the leader of the Romanian U-18 team and is regarded as one of the prospects of European football. The 18-year old Romanian is a versatile player who can play anywhere at midfield or defence.
Daminuta is currently playing as central defender but is equally adept as defensive midfielder since he was playing at Poli Timisoara II.
Is Santon the new Javier Zanetti?
After winning the scudetto with Inter under-17 last season, Santon was called up by Mourinho to train with the first squad for the first time at the end of July.
Six months later Mourinho rewarded the talented youngster with a starting role in Coppa Italia quarter-final against Roma. Inter won the game with 2-1 and since then Santon started all Inter games in the detriment of Maxwell.
Santon used to play as an attacking midfielder but later was used as a full-back by Inter Primavera coach. The youngster received only words of praise from his coach, Jose Mourinho, and his team-mates.
Javier Zanetti thinks he has a great future ahead: “He just needs to keep down this road, he has undisputed qualities which he also displays in training. He is also good at listening to our advices and I wish him all the best for a great career. He has what it takes to become an amazing footballer.”
If he continues to develop like this and Mourinho use him regularly Santon has the potential to be better that Zanetti. Considering his tactical versatility Santon can play on several positions , where the coach needs him at the time.
His physically and attacking qualities are also a plus. All this could make him the best full-back in the near future.
The youngster has also a great personality which is very appreciated by Mourinho but not only.
Santon continues to win admiration and could play his first senior derby next week when Inter will face Milan. If Mourinho will use him and he will have again a apreciated evolution then it will be very hard for Maxwell to regain his place.