Inter Per Sempre

1 Julio Cesar; 2 Cordoba; 4 Zanetti; 5 Stankovic; 6 Lucio; 8 Thiago Motta; 9 Eto'o; 11 Sulley Muntari; 12 Castellazzi; 13 Maicon; 16 Burdisso; 17 Mariga; 18 Suazo; 19 Cambiasso; 20 Obi; 21 Orlandoni; 22 Milito; 23 Materazzi; 24 Rivas; 25 Samuel; 26 Chivu; 27 Pandev; 29 Coutinho; 30 Amantino Mancini; 31 Alibec; 33 Obinna; 34 Biraghi; 39 Santon; 40 Nwankwo Obiora; 45 Balotelli; 50 Biabiany; 54 Dell'Agnello; 57 Natalino; 92 Gallinetta.

Source: Inter.it

Mario Balotelli will not play for the match between Inter and Manchester City tomorrow night.  The announcement is on the official website of Inter and was announced during a press conference of Benitez:

"The striker will not play tomorrow in Baltimore and Benitez said 'everyone in the group some more or less are really tired and it is normal at this time.  I will determine who will and won't play against City.  We don't want to risk anything because of this stage of the season.  It is better to manage even the slightest discomfort."

So officially, the boy has a fatigued muscle, but this is a clear message of an imminent farewell.

Source: Inter.it

Walter Tamer: "Branca and I will meet in a few days."

El Mundo Deportivo, today, reports that Barcelona are also in the footsteps of Javier Mascherano.  The Argentine midfielder really likes Barca and especially Pep Guardiola and there could be a real interest coming from Barca.  However, according to reports from England, the absolute determination of Javier Mascherano is to come to Inter with his mentor Rafa Benitez.  This was confirmed by the Daily Star today:  "El Jefecito is keen to follow Benitez to Inter, wants to be coached by whom he adores.  And for about 25 million pounds (28 to 29 million euros), Inter can find an agreement with Liverpool."

But the most important words come from Walter Tamer, another agent of the player besides his Italian agent Piccioli.  "With Branca we've talked over the phone and we've also agreed that we will meet soon to define the situation.  Liverpool will sell the player and the interest of Mascherano is to come to Inter to work again with Benitez."

Source: FC Inter News

Over 60,000 fans watch Nerazzurri take on Saudi outfit as Nawaf Al-Temyat bids farewell to football.

RIYADH (Saudi Arabia) - Over 60,000 fans packed the splendid King Fahd International Stadium as Inter kicked off 2010 with a 1-0 victory over Al Hilal in a friendly match to celebration the retirement from football of Asian football star Nawaf Al-Temyat.

José Mourinho, who met his fellow countryman and Saudi Arabia national team coach José Peseiro before kick-off, named a 4-3-3 formation to face the Saudi Arabian side, with Julio Cesar in goal; Giulio Donati, Lucio, Marco Materazzi and Davide Santon in defence; Patrick Vieira, Rene Krhin and Dejan Stankovic in midfield; and Mancini, Samuel Eto'o, and Alan Stevanovic in attack.

Star of the show Nawaf Al-Temyat, who saw a powerful left-footed shot fly just wide of Julio Cesar's post before half time, came off to a standing ovation in the 54th minute, receiving the compliments of Al Hilal tactician Eric Gerets and Inter coach José Mourinho.

Diego Milito came off the bench to net Inter's winner five minutes from time. Taking advantage of a double error by the Al Hilal defence, Il Principe created space for a right-footed shot and fired past Alotaibi from the edge of the box.

Al Hilal 0-1 Inter

Scorer: Milito 85.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar (1 Toldo 46; 21 Orlandoni 75); 28 Donati (13 Maicon 46), 6 Lucio (2 Cordoba 46), 23 Materazzi, 39 Santon (26 Chivu 46); 14 Vieira (4 Zanetti 46), 15 Khrin (19 Cambiasso 46), 5 Stankovic (10 Sneijder 75); 29 Stevanovic (22 Milito 74), 9 Eto'o (31 Alibec 46), 30 Mancini (45 Balotelli 46).

Coach: José Mourinho.

vs.

PIACENZA - Amantino Mancini put the Nerazzurri in front from the penalty spot, but Davide Moscardelli and Simone Guerra scored in the second half as Piacenza beat Inter 2-1 in Saturday's friendly match at the Stadio Leonardo Garilli.

José Mourinho and Inter's senior youth team coach Fulvio Pea fielded a starting eleven composed of five first team players and six Primavera youngsters for the friendly encounter, which kicked off after a miunte's silence in memory of the Messina landslide victims.

Watching from the stands, Massimo Moratti saw his team create an early chance for an opener when Romeo awarded a penalty after a foul by Tonucci on Vieira in the area. Mancini saw his spot kick saved by Maurantonio, but the Brazilian made amends two minutes before the half hour with another penalty, slotting past the Piacenza goalkeeper after his foul on Vieira.

Inter came out for the second half with Orlandoni, Biraghi and Fossati on for Toldo, Esposito and Carlsen. Quaresma had a couple of chances to increase Inter's lead before Moscardelli equalised with a crisp left-footed shot.

Moscardelli wasted a good chance to put the Biancorossi in front but Guerra headed beyond Orlandoni to seal victory with seven minutes remaining.

Piacenza 2-1 Inter (HT: 0-1)

Scorers: Mancini (pen) 28, Moscardelli 51, Guerra 83.

Piacenza: 1 Maurantonio (12 Puggioni 46); 2 Avogadri (16 Dragoni 77), 8 Silvestri (15 Maccopi 59), 5 Tonucci, 3 Anaclerio (13 Capogrosso 65); 4 Rincon, 6 Iorio, 7 Wolf (17 Guerra 46); 11 Piccolo (14 Parfait 46), 9 Tulli (18 Moscardelli 46), 10 Guzman (19 Simon 80).

Coach: Fabrizio Castori.

Inter: 1 Toldo (21 Orladoni 46); 2 Donati, 4 Rigione (6 Crisetig 60), 13 Natalino (23 Jirasek 70), 5 Esposito (25 Biraghi 46), 14 Vieira, 8 Fortunato (22 Beretta 77) 18 Carlsen (15 Fossati 46); 30 Mancini, 89 Arnautovic (10 Tremolada 80), 7 Quaresma.

Subs not used: 9 Destro, 19 Kysela.

Coach: José Mourinho.

Referee: Romeo (Verona).

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Obviously that I didn't see the game or any highlights for that matter.  But according to reports Arnautovic was pretty poor today and on Sky Sport 24, they have a montage of him being really slow and lazy because of almost 20 extra pounds on him.  This was just his 2nd game for him since that broken foot injury so...

Credit to FIVE STARS for uploading the videos.

Mourinho has relased the squad for the friendly match with Lugano scheduled for Saturday at the stadium "Cornaredo" in Lugano.  The coach decided to reast all the first team players and called up the majority Primevera players and you may also see Marko Arnautovic, whose number will be 89, the year he was born.

Goalkeepers: Toldo, Orlandoni

Defenders: Materazzi, Samuel, Marek Kyjsela, Donati

Midfielders: Quaresma, Vieira, Obi, Mancini, Antonio Esposito, Luke Tremolada, Sebastian Carlsen, Andrea Romano

Forwards: Arnautovic, Giuseppe Angarano, Simone Dell'Agnello, Sam Longo.