(SOURCE = PLANET FOOTBALL) Lyon have signed Internazionale defender Fabio Grosso.

Grosso has signed a four-year deal at Stade Gerland after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.

The Italian international, who scored the decisive penalty in last summer's World Cup final, will help fill the void left by the departure of Eric Abidal to Barcelona.

Grosso could link up down the left of Lyon's team next season with Hatem Ben Arfa after Lyon coach Alain Perrin revealed he is ready to give the youngster a chance to shine next season.

Ben Arfa looks set for more first team opportunities with wantaway midfielder Florent Malouda expected to clinch a move to Chelsea.

Perrin is a big admirer of Ben Arfa and he has promised to give him a chance to stake his claim for a regular place in the side.

"I want to give playing time to Hatem Ben Arfa. He has talent," said Perrin.

"Has he got the maturity to establish himself? We are going to see about that in the first month or two months of the season."

(SOURCE = GOAL.COM) Inter To Move For Chivu, Rivas, Kovac, Jimenez?

The nerazzuro are on the verge of landing four players as they look to win a third successive Scudetto. The most significant one could be Roma's Cristian Chivu, with Inter now being favourites to land the Romanian...

Rumours of Cristian Chivu being Inter-bound seem close to fruition as the Milan side and Roma seem close to an agreement over the centre-back.

Despite being linked with AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid, Chivu seems to feel that his future is with the nerazzuro. His agent has said that Cristian will either go to Inter or remain with Roma until his contract ends next year.

The main sticking point was the price, but this problem may have been overcome. Rumours indicate that the clubs are close to agreeing on a part-exchange deal: Inter will pay 15 million euros plus one player in exchange for the Romanian centre-back.

There are three more Inter signings in the pipeline. The first is Nelson Rivas. The Colombian defender is all but set to head to the San Siro, providing his medical all goes to plan; the player's agent, one Fernando Hidalgo, claims that all the transfer details have already been ironed out.

Next is Antonio Luis Jimenez. Well-known to Italian audiences, Luis arrived in Italy in 2002 to play for Ternana, and since then has served Fiorentina and, most recently, Lazio on loan.

Inter hope to be the next side to acquire the energetic Chilean on loan, and hope to have him in their midfield in time for the new season.

The player and his agent are both keen on a move to Inter but, sadly for both, there appear to be legal complications relating to the Jimenez's registration, which Ternana still hold due to co-ownership.

Finally, the wheels are in motion for a bid for Radoslav Kovac. Inter are lining up a 4-5 million euro bid for the Spartak Moscow defender, who can also play in defensive midfield.

The Czech, capped seven times for his country, has been a long-time target for Inter, but they may have to up their bid: Spartak are expected to want between 7 and 10 million euros. However, once a fee is agreed, a move should be swift.

(SOURCE = GOAL.COM) Inter Sign Jimenez - The Chilean player will join the Nerazzurri from Lazio on loan, with a buy-out option at the end of the season.

Inter have made an important signing as Massimo Moratti's club signed Lazio's Luis Antonio Jimenez on loan. The Nerazzurri will have the option to buy the midfielder in a year's time for a fee of eleven million Euros.

Jimenez had problems with Lazio and his departure was just a matter of days following a good season with the Biancocelesti, where he played 16 matches and scored 2 goals.

The Chilean player was very much wanted by Coach Roberto Mancini who had seen him as the ideal candidate for the midfield line to give some breathe to the first team players.

Jimenez had just joined Lazio in January and Coach Delio Rossi was counting on him for next season, but now it will be Inter who can field the technical midfielder.

Aston Villa Despatch Sorry Inter Milan Aston Villa 3-0 Inter Milan

Aston Villa put in a morale-boosting performance against the team that beat Manchester United 3-2 in midweek. Martin O'Neill's side thrashed Inter Milan 3-0 at Villa Park, with teo goals from Gareth Barry and one from Martin Laursen.

The game against the reigning Serie A champions confirmed firstly that Villa's rebuilding is progressing very well, and that they will be a force to be reckoned with next season.

But secondly it underlined the lack of depth in their squad, with Gareth Barry and Osbourne  operating as makeshift centre-backs by the end of the game, suggesting that O'Neill will be busy in the transfer market before the window closes.

It was a convincing win for Villa, who rook the lead in the 14th minute when Gareth Barry got opn the end of a Stiliyan Petrov cross.

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic pulled his shot wide shortly before the break, and three minutes after it, Villa had doubled their lead.

Barry slung a free-kick into the Nerazzurri box and it was headed home by former AC Milan defender Laursen.

Villa added their third came midway through the second half when Gabriel Agbonlahor broke into the area, only to be tripped by Walter Samuel. Man-of-the-match Barry converted the penalty with the minimum of fuss.

While the victory will surely give Villa great encouragement ahead of their Premier League opener against Liverpool next weekend, Inter have had a strange set of results in England.  Their victory against Premiership champions was sandwiched between this defeat by Villa and others by Arsenal and Valencia in the Emirates Cup.

Chivu up to the task

Cristian Chivu spurned the advances of Real Madrid and Barcelona - moves that could have defined his career.

The Romania captain rejected the chance to play alongside Fabio Cannavaro at the Bernabeu and knocked back the opportunity to be the foundation stone for attacking quartet Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho in Catalunya, opting instead to join Serie A champions Inter Milan.

Inter had long coveted the 26-year-old but withdrew from the race for his signature when the Spanish giants' interest became apparent, fearing a bidding war.

However, they had turned Chivu's head.

"I could not have missed this train," he said.

Chivu came to prominence at Ajax before a big-money move to Roma in 2003. A further high-profile transfer was touted in 2004 with Chelsea aiming to add Chivu to the Roman Abramovich revolution and then in 2005 Inter were linked with a bid.

The player's mind made up, the Nerazzuri returned to end the saga this pre-season, with Chivu delighted to move to Milan.

"Inter are the strongest team in Italy," he said. "I'm very happy to be in Milan at last - it ended how I wanted it to."

It was a bold decision, having spent four years in the Eternal City. However, Chivu believes he can follow a long line of great defenders in wearing the blue and black at the San Siro.

Italy World Cup winners Cannavaro and Marco Materazzi - who Chivu is expected to partner in the heart of the defence - Sinisa Mihajlovic, Lothar Matthaus, Daniel Passarella, Roberto Carlos, Laurent Blanc, Andreas Brehme and Matthias Sammer have all performed with distinction in the Inter backline.

It is a who's who, which would evoke fear in many young professionals but Chivu is prepared to rise to the challenge, reflecting on his vast experience but hoping his best years are still ahead of him.

Chivu moved to the Amsterdam ArenA from Romanian side Universitatea Craiova in 1999 after beginning his career with CSM Resita.

He was installed as captain by Ronald Koeman and led the Dutch giants to the Eredivisie in 2002 - a triumph that remains his only domestic league title to date.

He firmly established himself as one of the world's best defenders after an 18million euro ($A28.8million) transfer to the Stadio Olimpico, despite being unable to prove himself on the international stage - Romania have failed to qualify for a major international tournament since the UEFA European Championship in 2000.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini has said Chivu could be the 'new Mihajlovic' as both are versatile with a refined left foot.

"Chivu is a central defender who can also play as a left-back and even in midfield," Mancini enthused. "He can play two to three different roles and having a player like him is important."

"In fact, the two are similar and the parallel is not at all wrong. Cristian can also play as full-back, which is the role Sinisa played early in his career."

And Mihajlovic believes Chivu is crucial to Inter.

"The arrival of Chivu is important. He's one that can cover several roles in defence and this is very important," he explained.

Chivua was flattered by comparisons with the Serbian, who is now assistant to Mancini.

"This is a wonderful comparison, which gives me even more responsibility. Sinisa was a great player and I grew up watching him. I'm very pleased about this comparison," Chivu said.

And he is aware of the expectation but his manner, as it is on the pitch, is calm and assured.

"It's part of the game. Every player has his responsibilities, but I'm a player who knows how to take them," he added.

The Nerazzuri will be delighted if that self-assurance continues on the field and Chivu can help them to a third consecutive Serie A title.

I know one site with FC Inter news: www.interfanclub.com

Inter's case for the defence

Friday 24 August 2007

"Roma proved they are a very strong side but I think we are still the best" Dejan Stanković

Add one of the best defenders in Europe - Cristian Chivu - and a striker who scored 36 goals in the last two campaigns - David Suazo - to a squad which dominated Serie A last season and it doesn't take much to realise who are favourites to win the Scudetto again. Fortunately football does not always follow logic, as FC Internazionale Milano learned to their cost when AS Roma beat them in the Italian Super Cup on Sunday.

Record breakers
Last season Roberto Mancini's side won the title with an Italian-record total of 97 points, while also setting new highs for consecutive wins (17), most wins (30), most away wins (15), and consecutive away wins (11). Second-placed Roma finished 22 points behind. The Giallorossi may have been the only side to beat Inter in the league, as well as getting the better of them in the Coppa Italia final, but they were never serious contenders for the Scudetto.

'No fear'
Roma's success in head-to-heads against their rivals proved their starting XI was more or less at the same level as Inter's, but the Nerazzurri's larger squad made the difference in the long run. Roma took note and look to have reduced the gap this summer with signings Cicinho, Juan, Mauro Esposito, Ahmed Barusso and Ludovic Giuly, coupled with the return to full fitness of players such as Mirko Vučinić and Alberto Aquilani, who struggled with injuries last season. "Roma believe in the Scudetto" declared Corriere dello Sport after the Giallorossi's Super Cup triumph. "The wind has changed this season," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said, adding that his players are "now able to face the best team in Italy away with no kind of fear".

'Room for improvement'
Roma veteran defender Christian Panucci, however, still believes Inter are the team to beat. "They are favourites," the 34-year-old told uefa.com following Sunday's victory at the San Siro. "They are bigger than us in general so it probably takes more time for them to reach top physical condition. However we are full of enthusiasm, we will try to play our style of football until the end of the season and we will see where we end up. We're stronger than last season and I believe we still have a lot of room for improvement." Inter midfielder Dejan Stanković cautioned against reading too much into that result, however, insisting Inter will be a completely different proposition come kick-off at home to Udinese Calcio on Sunday. "We weren't at 100 per cent in the Super Cup but we will be when the league starts," he told uefa.com. "Even last season we didn't start particularly well, but there are no reasons to be scared. Roma proved they are a very strong side but I think we are still the best."

Respect
Inter should have a more difficult task than last season. European champions AC Milan will not have an eight-point deduction this time and as well as being bolstered by the arrival of Emerson, they will also have Massimo Oddo and Ronaldo available from the start, both having joined the Rossoneri midway through last term. "Milan never start behind any team," said the Brazilian striker who has scored seven times in 17 games since joining from Real Madrid CF. "We always start as favourites in any competition because of the team we have and because of the respect other teams have for us."

Juve back
Moreover, Juventus are back in the top flight following the purgatory of Serie B and new coach Claudio Ranieri has built a team capable of causing even the mighty Inter a few problems. He has signed a host of experienced internationals – Jorge Andrade, Tiago, Zdeněk Grygera, Sergio Bernardo Almirón, Hasan Salihamidžić and Vincenzo Iaquinta – while also managing to keep hold of lynchpins Gianluigi Buffon, Mauro Camoranesi, Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet. It is difficult to say, however, if the Bianconeri will be strong enough to challenge for the title.

Juve determined
"Other teams are already well-oiled, while we still have to get to know each other," Ranieri said. "Juventus are used to fighting for the title. I don't know if it will be this way this season, but my players have a lot of determination and a will to win, so I don't want to limit their enthusiasm." The likes of US Città di Palermo, ACF Fiorentina, S.S. Lazio and UC Sampdoria have also greatly reinforced their squads and are ready to spring a surprise, while the return of sleeping giants Genoa CFC and Napoli Soccer from Serie B should help rejuvenate the league as a whole after a difficult year. Inter may be favourites once again, but the Nerazzurri will surely face higher hurdles in their dash for the finishing line this time round.

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