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.
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.
Sampdoria 3-0 Inter video
Inter 3-3 Roma video
Bologna 1-2 Inter video
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.
Daminuta goal in Viareggio Cup
Inter 2-1 Milan video
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.
Should Mourinho start with Balotelli at Lecce?
Mario Balotelli has been called up by Mourinho for this week game against Lecce after some weeks of absence. Balotelli was left out of the squad in the last six matches by Mourinho after he refused to play against Catania.
Since then Mourinho has not called him anymore and it looked like the transfer window will mean the departure of the Italian under-21 international from San Siro.
But after what he said at the pre-match conference we might think that the Portuguese technician has forget Balotelli.
Balotelli could take advantage on Cruz and Adriano missing trough injury and suspension and figure into the starting line-up.
Inter crosses a bad time, considering their past results, and a good performance from Balotelli against Lecce is expected.
Last game against Lecce at San Siro, Inter won the game after a late goal scored by Cruz.
Balotelli is a player with huge potential but his behavior is sometimes unacceptable. Mourinho said once that if he would train at 50% of his capability then he could become the best player in the world. His set-pieces are deadly and his control skills are fantastic somehow similar to Ibrahimovic.
Also Ibrahimovic advised balotelli to train harder and to listen to the coach because he is young and he still has a lot to learn.