Benitez: Inter broke their transfer promises to me

Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez has reflected back on his time as Inter coach, revealing that the club broke promises regarding who he could sign.
The Spaniard had a short-lived spell in Milan with the Nerazzurri in 2010, before returning to Italy to coach Napoli from 2013 to 2015, and has now spilled some information regarding his stay at the two sides.
“At Inter, I was promised Javier Mascherano, Dirk Kuyt, and Patrice Evra,” he told Radio Onda Cero.
“But in the end, they bought me none of them.”
The name of Argentine Mascherano was to pop up again three years later when he joined Napoli after leaving his post at Chelsea, as he reveals.
“When I was at Napoli, we were close to signing Mascherano.”
Benitez also told of how current Partenopei star Marek Hamsik was the subject of keen interest under his leadership.
“When I was there clubs wanted to buy Hamsik, but he was not for sale.”

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Etihad deny Inter sponsorship

Etihad Airways have denied they are in talks with Inter for a five-year sponsorship deal worth €125m.
The rumour of the deal, worth €25m per season, was reported in multiple Italian papers including La Gazzetta dello Sport and the Corriere della Sera.
This afternoon Etihad released a statement assuring the company is not in any negotiations with Inter FC, so rumours are without foundation.
Etihad already sponsor football clubs including Manchester City and New York City FC.

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Milito: 'Inter to beat Juventus'

Diego Milito trusts Inter can beat Juventus and take the Scudetto with Mauro Icardi “following in my footsteps.”
The Derby d’Italia kicks off tonight at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT)
“I hope that Inter win and in my view that can do it,” Milito told the Corriere dello Sport newspaper.
“They had a great start to the season and are fighting to win the Scudetto. I’ll be watching from home and cheering on the Nerazzurri.
“They’ve signed great players, including experienced elements and talented youngsters. Joao Miranda and Jeison Murillo are so good in defence.”
Icardi is continuing the tradition of Argentine strikers at Inter and has even been made captain.
“Mauro did very well last season, he’s young, but can be a reference point for the present and future. He is a very strong forward and has the potential to do even better.
“I hope he can follow in my footsteps. Inter are a great club with an important history and I hope they’ll soon get back to lifting trophies, thanks also to Mauro’s goals.
“The games against Juventus and Milan are special for Inter players and fans. I’ve scored in both those fixtures and I hope Mauro can continue his positive streak against Juve.”
Inter haven’t beaten Juventus home or away since 2010, when Milito bagged a brace.
“That was a fantastic win, an unforgettable moment for many reasons. First of all nobody had yet won at the Juventus Stadium and then it allowed us to go within a point of first place.
“I didn’t expect to see Juve so far behind this season, but they still have a great squad. After last year, when they almost won the Treble, it was inevitable changes had to be made, but if you lose Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo simultaneously…
“Inter-Juve will be tough for both sides, but I am convinced Inter will put in a great performance and, after winning the Derby della Madonnina, can win the Derby d’Italia too.”

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Serie A special: Samuel announces retirement

Former Inter and Roma defender Walter Samuel announces he will retire at the end of the season.
The centre-back lifted six Scudetti in his time in Italy, one with Roma and five with the Nerazzurri, after returning from Real Madrid.
The Argentinian is now at Basel, but has told a local newspaper that he will hang up his boots at the end of the season, when he’ll be 38.
“There comes a time where you have to listen to what your body is telling you, when everything hurts and mentally you’re tired,” Samuel told Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
“I still want to play, but I’m having physical difficulties. It’s not an easy decision, not at all. I like being a footballer, training, being with my teammates.
“But now it takes me longer to recover than the others, when the younger players are ready to go it takes me two or three days.
“They’re also faster. I try to keep up at the same pace, but it’s not the same.
“What will I miss most? The dressing room. For me it’s like school, once you’re on holiday you can’t wait to get back and see your friends and enjoy the banter.
“That’s what I’ll miss the most, not so much the playing, because I played a lot of matches.
“I’ll find something else to keep me busy. I’m still young. Not for a footballer, but for other things.”
Samuel won the treble under Jose Mourinho at Inter in 2010, and insists his demeanour is very different in the dressing room compared to the Press room.
“We won the Champions League with him. Those two years weren’t just formative for Inter as a club, but all of us [players].
“In public he seemed very confrontational, but we knew what he was really like.
“That aggression was probably part of his persona.”

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AC Milan Improve by Degrees in Draw at Torino but Aren't Complete Yet

After being destroyed 4-0 by Napoli last time out, AC Milan were in need of a major improvement coming out of the international break. Their task was a big one: beat a Torino team that was perfect so far at home.

Milan certainly didn't play the perfect match. While they probably should have held on and gotten more than a 1-1 draw, they did enough to make a case that they had moved on from that horrific night against the Partenopei and made the first moves to get better.
There were certainly enough distractions in the two weeks since the team's previous match. After the Napoli game, there were reports in La Repubblica (h/t Football Italia) that Mihajlovic's place on the bench was no longer certain.
Whether or not he's considering firing his new coach, owner Silvio Berlusconi has definitely begun to characteristically stick his nose into his manager's business. On Thursday, La Stampa reported (h/t Football Italia) that Berlusconi was overheard during a political meeting as saying that Mihajlovic, while a good coach on the training field, needed to work on "a bit of tactics."
Dealing with Berlusconi's perpetual belief that he knows more about football than his managers is a fact of life if you're managing Milan, and Mihajlovic responded forcefully in his pre-match press conference, asserting, again through Football Italia, "only I am responsible for the tactics."

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Galliani blames calendar for AC Milan struggles

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has pointed the finger at the Rossoneri’s fixture list to explain their poor start to the season.
Needing to rebound after successive losses to Genoa and Napoli, the Diavolo failed to get back to winning ways as they were held 1-1 draw by Torino on Saturday.
According to the 71-year-old, the reasons for Milan’s disappointing run of form lie with their less than clement calendar, which has given them many tricky away matches.

“We had a difficult start, which was made even more complicated by the fact we met big teams,” Galliani explained.
“Not only that but we also played a number of those games on the road.”
Despite finding excuses for the team’s poor form, Galliani did stress that they must meet standards on par with their important summer investments, as well as insisted that coach Sinisa Mihajlovic’s job is safe.

“We expect more [from the players],” the Rossoneri vice-president admitted. “We made big investments and we believe we have a good team.
“The outcome of the Torino clash was never supposed to be a decisive match for the [future of the] coach.
“Every game is important and there is no use in over-dramatising the situation. It is still very early into the season.”
The draw with Torino has left the Milan giants 11th in Serie A and with just 10 points from their opening eight matches.

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Manchester City v Chelsea: Mourinho keen to move on from Carneiro saga

Jose Mourinho will be glad to return to on-field matters when Chelsea travel to Premier League rivals Manchester City on Sunday.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has the chance to put off-field headlines to one side this weekend when he takes his men to Manchester City for an early test of both teams' title credentials.

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Middlesbrough pounce for Nugent

Promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough have boosted their attacking options with the signing of Leicester City striker David Nugent.

Middlesbrough have signalled their intent to get out of the Championship this season with the signing of David Nugent from Leicester City.

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Villa swoop for Barca's Traore

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Adama Traore from Barcelona for a fee that could rise to €12million.

Adama Traore has made the move from Catalan giants Barcelona to Aston Villa, agreeing terms on a five-year deal.

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Norwich boss Neil confirms Destro interest

Norwich City are interested in bringing Roma striker Mattia Destro to Carrow Road, according to manager Alex Neil.

Italy striker Mattia Destro is the subject of interest from Premier League newcomers Norwich City, Alex Neil has confirmed.

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Bruce: Livermore failed drugs test after family tragedy

Jake Livermore tested positive for cocaine after struggling to cope with the loss of his baby, Hull City manager Steve Bruce has said.

Hull City manager Steve Bruce has shed light on Jake Livermore's failed drugs test, revealing that the midfielder was struggling to deal with the death of his baby.

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Roma recruit Dzeko: I'll always be a City fan

Edin Dzeko bade farewell to Manchester City in an open letter after completing his transfer to Roma.

Bosnia-Herzegovina international striker Edin Dzeko said he will always be a Manchester City fan after joining Serie A outfit Roma on a season-long loan deal.

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