Sportmediaset is reporting that big spending Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala have made a €25 million bid for Wesley Sneijder and are believed to be ready to offer him a €155,000-a-week pay check.

Sneijder, who has struggled with both his form and staying fitness this season, said he was happy playing at Inter, but earlier this week left the door open for anything.

He was quoted as saying: “I always look at what can happen, do not close the door to anyone. I’m happy at Inter but we’ll see.”

The Russian transfer window does not close until February 24, so we will have more to go on this story in the coming weeks.

If the story from Sportmediaset is true, I think that Inter will have a difficult time turning down €25 million for a player that doesn’t really fit into Ranieri’s scheme. In addition, Inter need to continue to rebuild and get younger and the €25 million will allow the club to add two or three good young players to the squad.

Plus Sniejder has not been the same player since the 2010 World Cup. Since coming back from South Africa, he has been a lot more injury prone than he was before.

Would you accept €25 million for Wesley Sneijder?

Beginning to hear rumblings that Inter will conduct part of its pre-season training in the U.S. this summer.

Negotiations are ongoing, but one persistent rumor has Inter playing Real Madrid at Yankee Stadium in New York.

Yankee Stadium is the home to baseball’s New York Yankees, so it is not a perfect venue for football, but the attraction of seeing Jose Mourinho manage against Inter would be enough to ensure a sellout.

European team usually play two to three games in the U.S. as part of their preseason preparation. No word yet on who else Inter will play and where.

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Inter‘s new defender 20-year-old Juan Jesus, is regarded as the finest young central defender in Brazil.

Juan was so good in a relatively brief spell with Porto Alegre giants Internacional that Inter signed him to a four-year deal. The chance to link up with the Brazil captain Lucio, himself a graduate of the Colorado youth ranks, is one the up-and-coming youngster is relishing, particularly as he has often been compared to the rangy stopper.

“It’s all a bit weird isn’t it?” Juan told FIFA.com, having switched one Inter for another “People have always spoken about the Lucio-Juan partnership, and it’s going to carry on, albeit with a different Juan. It’s been a talking point whenever I’ve played for Brazil’s youth teams. I used to joke with the kitman Barreto: ‘They don’t need to make a kit for me. Just get them to send Juan’s from the World Cup’. Barreto would laugh and tell the others that I already had a big pile of jerseys with the name Juan on them and that they didn’t need to change anything.”

Joking aside, Juan Jesus is determined to make his dream of playing side by side with Lucio a reality. A member of the Brazil side that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011, he has represented his country on many occasions and believes he has the class and stature to break into Inter’s starting line-up, a belief that grew stronger when he met his idol for the first time.

“It was an incredible experience for me,” he said. “I’ve just been to Italy to sign the contract and I went to the cinema with my friend Coutinho, who I know through the national team, and his wife. Lucio came along too, with his wife, and I thought he was a really nice guy, very down to earth. It’s going to be an honour for me to play with him,” he continued. “It’s going to help me grow as a player and as a person because he’s a role model and the captain of A Seleção.”

Aside from the position they play in and their backgrounds at Internacional, Lucio and Juan have several other things in common, among them their size and playing style. Standing 6’1 tall, Juan is just an inch shorter than the veteran, and, like him, has acquired a reputation for being the most committed of players and for bringing the ball out of defence and linking up with his team-mates in attack.

Though that desire to get forward means he gets his fair share of scoring opportunities, it also infuriates his coaches, something he seems prepared to accept:

“I like to attack, and if I’ve got the space I’ll come out of defence. If the situation’s a bit dangerous, though, I’ll stay back. The thing is though, if I have to get forward and Lucio does too, then we’ll just have to put up a sign saying ‘The defence will be back soon’(laughs). I’ll need to read the game well because it’s different to Brazilian football,” he added. “But I’m sure it’s going to be a fascinating experience and one he [Lucio] can help me with.”

Though a loan move to Novara was mooted, Inter’s new signing is itching for an early opportunity to prove himself in the famous black-and-blue stripes.

“The results of my medical tests were very good and the doctor recommended that I stay here,” he explained. “They’re looking to get things sorted out quickly and as soon as I’m ready, I might get straight into the team, against Marseille on the 22nd, who knows?”

The chance to dovetail into an Inter defence also containing compatriots Julio Cesar in goal and Maicon in the right-back slot is one that clearly excites the youngster:

“Like anyone else who comes to this club, I just want to play. If [Walter] Samuel is suspended or someone’s injured, then there’s no reason why I shouldn’t get my chance. They have a four-man defence but I can play full-back too. Full-backs in Italy don’t get forward as much as they do in Brazil.”

With a ticket to the London Olympics with A Seleção among his objectives, as well as a starting place at one of the world’s strongest club sides, Juan Jesus is setting his sights high.

And should he achieve his lofty objectives, he intends to stick around:

“I’m young, strong and quick, and from what they’ve told me about the project, they want me to go and do what [Javier] Zanetti did 20 years ago (laughs). Whenever I play video games and see the titles that you can win, like the Serie A and the Champions League, I start thinking about them. It’s going to be fantastic for sure.”

With the injury to Walter Samuel, and two relatively easy league games coming up, this would be the perfect time for Ranieri to introduce Juan to Serie A.  I am really looking forward to seeing him in action.

Bad news for Inter, especially considering the way they have been leaking goals recent as Walter Samuel has been diagnosed with a thigh strain today that could keep him out of action for a couple of weeks.

Samuel was substituted at halftime during Sunday’s loss to Roma ands he underwent medical tests Tuesday.

Initial reports though suggest that he is expected to be fit for Inter’s UEFA Champions League trip to French side Marseille on 22 February.

Eight goals conceded in two games and the white flag raised against Roma at the weekend, how has Inter fallen so far since the MIlan derby win?

Couple of thoughts on that:

Need to get better defensively
Inter’s winning streak was built from the back out. When you keep the opposition of the score sheet it is much easier to win. Inter have conceded 11 goals in the last four matches, and you cannot win with that kind of defensive record. Ranieri needs to focus on team defence while Inter will get a bit of help from the fixture list as they have home matches against Novara and Bologna before their first match in the Champions League.

Self- Belief
Confidence is a funny thing in a football team and Inter look like a team with no confidence at the moment. Playing Novara and Bologna should help, and this is when Inter’s leaders like Zanetti and Cambiasso need to stand up and lead the team

Injuries
Inter have been bothered by injuries all season and they did not help themselves in the January transfer window when they sold Thiago Motta. He has been replaced by Palombo (not quite the same) and the injured Guarin, who will be out for at least three weeks.

Other players should be back before then, starting with Sneijder, who announced on Twitter that he would like to train on his own today (a rest day) to make sure that he is “one hundred percent fit on Sunday”. Juan, Borini and Bojan have not just given the team back to the Dutch player, they have also restored his role as the great saviour. The return of players like him, Alvarez, Forlan and perhaps Stankovic is of fundamental importance.

More Creativity
Sometimes I am not sure if Ranieri knows his best XI and his best formation. Milito is currently on a hot streak and Ranier has to figure out how to get him the ball more often in goal scoring positions. Yes Inter needs defensive midfielders on the pitch (see comment above), but they also need skillful attacking players who can beat an opponent one one one and create scoring opportunities.

What do you think is wrong with Inter at the moment?

Inter President Massimo Moratti was not a happy camper after seeing Inter’s poor effort against Roma. Teenty-four hours after witnessing Inter capitulate Moratti had this to say to journalists in Viareggio:

“I don’t want to talk about yesterday’s match, because it wasn’t a match. It was a heavy defeat. I don’t want to give you my opinion because it would be a bit too harsh”.

But he did issue a warning:

“Some of the players need to realise that the league is not over yet – there is still a long way to go. They must fight to the last”. And in reply to the question about whether the team needed “rebuilding” he said with a smile: “Even in the season in which we won everything everyone said that the team needed rebuilding”.

Naturally, Moratti too was rather perplexed by the three defeats that have followed the seven victories in a row:

“If I could explain this turnaround, I would be a happy man. At the club we have to work out what needs to be done because there is no time to lose. The match against Roma was the worst of all because against Lecce we missed 10 goal-scoring chances and against Palermo we had already won the match, while in Rome it looked like we expected the referee to blow the final whistle after just a few minutes”.

 

Here are some of Claudio Ranieri’s comments after Inter‘s heavy defeat in the capital Sunday.

“Let’s give credit where it’s due. Roma played a great game. We contributed something, but we were no match for them on the day. It was an off-day for us. We aren’t the team we were. It’s time to draw a line through it all and start from scratch.”

“It was a bit of a blow, we didn’t really get into the game; we were left on the blocks from the very start. We have to score a line through it and ask ourselves what has been going wrong since we lost the derby. We weren’t on the pitch. They showed more determination than we did and I had warned them. Apart from that we conceded a goal from a dead-ball situation… We must pick ourselves up and react: we have two matches and then the Champions League and we must be ready. Today we reorganised the team from a tactical point of view at half time, but the third goal came and it was all over. Except for the effort those lads put into the game who put everything into it and kept fighting even when they were four goals down…,” he added.

The coach was asked why he took Giampaolo Pazzini off:

“They played four midfielders against our two, if we moved inside we left their wingers free, if we went down the wings they moved infield… What was missing was focus and attention, we’ll be able to verify it on Tuesday. We have fallen in the past and picked ourselves up. We’ll try and do it again this time. But I’m still convinced that this group want to win. After the determination and attention we showed in the derby we let our adrenaline levels drop too much along with our concentration,” he added. “We have to get back to playing our various roles and as a team. We’ve lost our way in the past ten days, but we can get back on track; we’ve done it before and we’ll do it again.

“If we look at the first goal,” he went on to explain, “we knew that Juan was good at getting up in the area but we left him unmarked and he was able to do what he wanted: we must be more careful. We can’t let attackers have free headers on goal like that. Will Guarin make any difference? Guarin arrived here with a calf muscle injury, but this has nothing to do with him. We have to pick ourselves up first of all and then bring back players like Sneijder, Forlan and Stankovic. Maicon will be suspended for the match against Bologna. I decided to give Faraoni a run out as he had played well when we were winning and we’ll need him.”

Finally Ranieri was asked once again if he missed Thiago Motta:

“When a player wants to leave it’s always better to let him go.”

Javier Zanetti was looking for no excuses as he spoke to Inter Channel after the heavy defeat to Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

“I think this was Inter’s worst performance since the start of the season, regardless of the fact that Roma played very well and deserved to win. We didn’t even turn up, it was a mass blackout, but we have to try and remain concentrated for Sunday’s game because we can’t repeat a performance like today’s.”

“Roma deserve full credit,” the Nerazzurri captain admitted. “They kept hold of the ball well and were able to pass their way out of defence and that’s when we started struggling. Once they managed to break the deadlock it became even more difficult for us. But there’s not much point in analysing this game because as I said we were never in it today.”

Asked about the other sides at the top all drawing or losing, Zanetti replied:

“We have to worry about ourselves, improve a lot, get on with our jobs and then we’ll see where it takes us.”

Finally, Zanetti was asked what a captain says to his team-mates after a defeat like that:

“We’ll talk about it on Tuesday because lots of things can be said in the heat of the moment after a game like that. I don’t like discussing a game with the other players right after the final whistle. We’re all bitterly disappointed right now, if we start looking for more things to hurt ourselves with it will only worsen the situation. It’s better to talk about it with a calm mind and analyse what happened on Tuesday together, then move on.”

It couldn’t have been a more disappointing return to Roma for Claudio Ranieri as the Giallorossi put four past Inter, who were unable to get their game together or find the necessary grit at the Olimpico. There was no reaction to Roma’s goals: Juan broke the deadlock with a header, Borini grabbed a brace and Bojan rounded off the scoring in the 90th minute. Nerazzurri motionless, on the pitch and in the league table: they remain on 36 points.

FIRST HALF
Ranieri went with veteran central defensive pair Lucio and Samuel at the back in front of Julio Cesar and Maicon and Nagatomo as full-backs; a four-man midfield with Zanetti and Obi wide, Palombo making his full debut alongside Cambiasso in the centre; Milito and Pazzini up front.

The first chance of the match fell to Roma in the 5th minute as Borini latched onto a ball over the top and shot on the turn: wide. The Giallorossi had started strongly and were looking dangerous especially through Lamela. On 12 minutes Julio Cesar was called into action twice in a matter of seconds: first to deny Lamela following Totti’s backheel, then to keep out Pjanic’s effort.

However, the Brazilian could do nothing a minute later, when Totti’s corner was met in the air by Juan, the Brazilian leaping above the crowd to head Roma in front. Milito went looking for an equaliser after a quarter of an hour, setting off from the halfway line and nutmegging De Rossi before cutting inside and aiming for the far post, but Stekelenburg made the save. T

he Giallorossi kept up the pressure and on 27 minutes Totti collected a return ball from José Angel inside the box; however, the captain was unable to get his shot away. Luis Enrique’s men were clearly on top. In the 32nd minute, Lamela connected with José Angel’s high ball but could only loop his header over the bar.

The Nerazzurri’s second chance of game came after 37 minutes: Pazzini didn’t trouble Stekelenburg with his header. Two minutes later Nagatomo was in a good position on the left of the area but drove a shot-cross well beyond the far post with Pazzini lurking. Roma doubled their lead four minutes before half time: De Rossi fed Pjanic, who chipped a ball into the area for Borini; the forward dribbled past Samuel and fired home with his right. After a minute’s added time the first half ended 2-0 to Roma.

SECOND HALF
Claudio Ranieri made two half-time substitutions as he looked to shake the side up, with Cordoba coming on for Samuel and Poli for Pazzini. Yet just three minutes passed and Roma had a third, and Borini was again the scorer. Juan hoofed a long ball forward, Borini beat the offside trap and chested down, holding off Lucio, and finished from the centre of area.

In the 62nd minute Cordoba and Julio Cesar read the opposition’s move well and were able to cut out Totti as he bore down on goal. Pjanic had a chance a few minutes later but couldn’t keep his effort down.

Roma were still in control of the game and there was no sign of a reaction from the Nerazzurri throughout the second half. Bojan made it four in the 89th minute, bringing down a cross from Serie A debutant Piscitella and wriggling free of the Nerazzurri defenders before firing home from the edge of the box.

Two minutes of added time were played before the referee blew the final whistle: Roma 4-0 Inter.

Roma coach Luis Enrique has urged his side to play without fear in Saturday’s Serie A game against Inter Milan.

Enrique expects a drastic improvement from his players after they followed their 1-1 draw against Bologna with a 4-2 defeat at Cagliari on Wednesday.

“We have made mistakes against lower sides and those errors have cost us to lose some games,” he said. “But I see a team that has the potential to become great provided it gives 100% in every game. When we were 2-1 up against Cagliari, my players relaxed and thought they had already won the game. I am nevertheless confident that the team will do much better from here on. Against Inter I expect a difficult game and I hope the fans will give us great support as always. We have to go on the pitch without fear because we can beat Inter.”

The result in Sardinia ended Roma’s six-match unbeaten run and dropped the Giallorossi to sixth place, five points behind Inter.

Inter travel to the Stadio Olimpico also looking to bounce back from disappointing results. The Nerazzurri followed their 1-0 defeat at Lecce with a 4-4 draw against Palermo in midweek. The result left Inter five points behind Udinese, who hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

Inter captain Javier Zanetti has warned his team-mates to expect a battle in the Eternal City.

“We expect a tough game in Rome and it will be even trickier because Roma lost against Cagliari while we weren’t able to win against Palermo,” he said. “Both sides will be determined to get the three points.”

Inter coach Claudio Ranieri, who resigned as Roma manager a year ago, will be bolstered by the return of defender Walter Samuel.
Samuel missed the clash against Palermo with a muscle injury.