Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder eager to welcome Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt to Inter

Inter midfielder Wesley Sneijder is keen to see Netherlands team-mate Dirk Kuyt signed up from Liverpool.

The 30-year-old is believed to be on the verge of a £13 million move to reunite with ex-manager Rafael Benitez at the San Siro. After Sneijder and Kuyt helped propel their nation to the World Cup 2010 final, the ex-Ajax and Real Madrid player was eager for them to join forces at club level.

Speaking to Corriere Dello Sport, he said: "With him it's like playing with 12 and not 11 players.

"Kuyt is always running for two and with the work that he does he's always vital, whether for the national team or Liverpool."

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Milan turn down Bologna offer for Tottenham target Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

Italian powerhouse Milan have rejected an offer from fellow Serie A club Bologna for the services of striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, according to latest reports.

Il Corriere dello Sport reports that Bologna made a bid on Thursday for the former Real Madrid striker but Milan's director of sport Ariedo Braida turned it down. Apparently, the Felsinei wanted the Dutch international striker on loan for the 2010-11 season but the former Italian and European champions want to sell him outright for a sum between €10 million (£8.2m) and €12m (£9.8m).

Milan, who finished third in the Italian top flight last campaign, have expressed a willingness to offload the 27-year-old, who has struggled to fulfill his potential at the San Siro. Huntelaar had previously been linked with moves to Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool but nothing concrete has emerged.

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Juventus in talks to sign Alberto Aquilani from Liverpool

Juventus are in talks with Liverpool to sign midfielder Alberto Aquilani, according to the player's agent.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has earlier admitted that Aquilani, who was signed from Roma last summer, could be let go to Italy on loan for a year. Juventus have been looking to strengthen their midfield and it appears that are set to make a move for the Italian.

Aquilani's agent, Franco Zavaglia, says that although negotiations are underway, a deal is not yet in place for the Italian, contrary to reports.

“The negotiations between Juventus and Liverpool have not yet concluded. We are working on the details,” he told Sky Italia.

However, according to Il Corriere dello Sport, Aquilani is already a Juventus player. The report claims contracts have been signed and the Liverpool midfielder will move to the club on loan with an option to buy for €17 million (£13.9m).

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AC Milan Sign Kevin-Prince Boateng from Genoa

Italian giants AC Milan have announced the signing of midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng from Genoa on a season-long loan deal with an option to sign him on a permanent contract at the end of the 2010-11 campaign.

Boateng has joined Genoa from Portsmouth for a reported fee of around £5 million after his impressive performances for the Ghana at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Portsmouth chief executive David Lampitt was grateful to Boateng for his spell at Fratton Park and wished him well for the future.

He told the club's official website: "We wish Kevin all the best. He played an important role last season and we thank him for that."

On Tuesday, though, Grifone president Enrico Preziosi had made it clear that he was on the verge on farming out the player on loan to Milan and would be looking to make a profit on any future dealings involving the player.

The Rosseneri are struggling for funds to sign reinforcements and a loan signing is beneficial for the former Italian and European champions.

The 23-year-old central midfielder was an important player for Ghana at the World Cup in which the Black Stars reached the quarter-finals.

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Inter sign Ranocchia, Genoa get Destro

FC Internazionale Milano have signed Andrea Ranocchia in a co-ownership deal with Genoa CFC, with the Italy Under-21 defender being scheduled to switch clubs in summer 2011.

FC Internazionale Milano have reached an agreement with Genoa CFC to sign Andrea Ranocchia for an undisclosed fee, with the 1.95m-tall defender to switch clubs in summer 2011. In a separate arrangement, Internazionale's Italy Under-19 striker Mattia Destro has been loaned to Genoa for one season.

The 22-year-old Ranocchia's playing licence will be held jointly between the two Serie A teams, and he will remain at Genoa for one more campaign while having an Inter contract until 2015. Ranocchia was a Perugia Calcio trainee before making his professional bow with AC Arezzo in Serie B in 2006/07 and then transferring to Genoa in 2008. The centre-back has spent the last two seasons on loan at AS Bari, winning promotion in his first campaign and becoming a Serie A regular last term until a knee injury in January ended his involvement. Part of Italy's squad at the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, he was involved in their current qualifying campaign prior to his injury. Destro, who has trained with Inter's senior side, is leading Italy's line at the UEFA European U19 Championship finals in France, having top-scored in qualifying with eight goals. Italian and European titleholders Inter enter the UEFA Champions League in the group stage.

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Mario Balotelli and Maicon "NOT FOR SALE"

Champions League holders Inter Milan are not looking to sell Mario Balotelli and Maicon, the club's technical director Marco Branca has said.

Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have been linked with bids for striker Balotelli, 19, with Real Madrid reportedly keen on right-back Maicon. "We will consider offers, but they are not transfer listed," Branca told the club's website. "How much is Balotelli worth? He doesn't have a price." Inter won the Serie A title and Copa Italia last season to complete a treble under former manager Jose Mourinho, but while Maicon was a key player Balotelli fell out with the manager and was an unused substitute as the Italian side beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

But with former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez now in charge at the San Siro, Branca insisted the club have no need to sell key players. "We are in a privileged situation, having won so much," he said. "It's true that we receive calls each day because everyone wants at least six or seven of our champions." Balotelli had a temperamental relationship with Mourinho, but is considered one of Italy's brightest prospects and is likely to get his chance in the national team after Italy crashed out of the World Cup in the group stages. Maicon, 28, is an established member of the Brazilian national team and his form over the past season has seen him shortlisted for the 2010 Ballon d'Or - given to the player voted the best in Europe.

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Thigh confines Iaquinta to Juventus sidelines

Striker Vincenzo Iaquinta must sit out Juventus's opening UEFA Europa League fixtures after he suffered a recurrence of the thigh problem which plagued him at the FIFA World Cup.

Juventus will be without Vincenzo Iaquinta for their UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie against Shamrock Rovers FC or Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv FC, with the striker nursing a thigh problem. Iaquinta was troubled by a painful right thigh during Italy's FIFA World Cup campaign in South Africa, and has continued to struggle since returning to his club. The former Udinese Calcio player will be sidelined for about a month.

Although Juventus coach Luigi Delneri should be able to call on the 30-year-old for the start of the Serie A season, Iaquinta will play no part in the Turin side's European openers, scheduled for 29 July and 5 August. Shamrock Rovers and Bnei Yehuda are level at 1-1 going into Thursday's deciding leg in Israel of their second qualifying round tie.

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Edinson Cavani joined Napoli from Palermo

Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani has joined SSC Napoli from fellow UEFA Europa League play-off entrants US Città di Palermo for a reported fee that is expected to reach €17m.

SSC Napoli have signed Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani from US Città di Palermo for a reported fee that is expected to reach €17m.
The 23-year-old has signed a contract running until 2015. "Cavani is a great player," said Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentis. "We've been following him for a month and, although several other clubs tried to sign him, we've moved faster. We're proud to give another big players to our fans." Cavani began his career with Danubio FC before joining Palermo in January 2007 and immediately establishing himself as a regular, scoring 35 goals in 114 appearances, including 15 in each of the last two seasons.

The striker, who only signed a new four-year Palermo deal in April, further impressed in the recent FIFA World Cup where he helped Uruguay to the semi-finals, scoring in the 3-2 third-place play-off defeat by Germany. Overall he has 23 caps and joins a team who, like Palermo, begin their UEFA Europa League campaign in the play-off round, with the draw on 6 August and the matches on the last two Thursdays of next month. Earlier on Saturday, Palermo signed left-back Santiago García from CA Rosario Central and made goalkeeper Giacomo Brichetto's loan move permanent on a three-year deal.

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Fabio Cannavaro has admitted the offer to join Al Ahli

Fabio Cannavaro has admitted the offer to join Al Ahli was too good to turn down, with the 36-year-old saying he expects to end his playing career in the United Arab Emirates. The former Italy captain, whose international career came to a disappointing conclusion with Gli Azzurri's exit in the group stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ having lifted the trophy four years previously in Germany, penned a two-year deal with the Dubai club last month.
"I accepted Al Ahli's offer mainly because it was the best offer for me and my family," Cannavaro said. "I played in Italy and Spain for 20 years. I needed a change, so I made it.

"I'm happy to join Al Ahli as this is a new journey in my career and I'm looking forward to it. The UAE is a nice country. I hope that I can end my career with Al Ahli, who are investing in football for the future. I have met my new team-mates and they showed their desire to win, which will be our main motivation."
Al Ahli have turned to the former Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid defender in a bid to improve on a disappointing season last term. They finished eighth in the UAE League and exited the AFC Champions League at the first hurdle after finishing bottom of Group D.

"I needed a change, so I made it. I'm happy to join Al Ahli as this is a new journey in my career and I'm looking forward to it." Fabio Cannavaro

Cannavaro, Italy's most-capped player, also hopes to play a prominent role in developing the club's young talent. "I have followed the UAE League and I saw Al Ahli in the AFC Champions League," he said.
"I hope that we will put all our efforts into getting better results and good achievements next year. I came here to use all my experience and help the young players."
Al Ahli executive manager Ahmad Khalifa Hammad was delighted with the Italian's capture. "Cannavaro will join us for two seasons and he will be a big addition for us," he said. "Fabio will be the new captain of the team because he has a strong personality on the pitch, and he has good leadership and experience."
Hammad also confirmed former Leeds United and Aston Villa manager David O'Leary will be presented as the club's new coach in the coming days. "We will also announce the official signing of coach David O'Leary in an official press conference," he added. "We hope that we can build a good team to compete in the new season."

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