Deal between Inter and Eto'o

All Italian media claim that Inter Milan and Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28) have found an agreement on a five-year deal worth 10 million euro plus incentives a year.

Only the signature of the player would now still be missing. The player's agent, Josep Maria Mesalles, would fly back to Barcelona to negotiate with Barcelona on the exit bonus of the player. The official announcement of the deal would be close.

Shortly after today's second meeting with Inter officials, Mesalles told Italian news agency Ansa that progress has been made: "The negotiations are advancing well, but we are looking for a solution to all the points that are being discussed. There won't be new negotiations today. Four hours of talking is enough for one day. Now I will return to Spain and tomorrow I could be back in Italy."

Read more:
Deal Inter-Eto'o will be announced soon
Eto'o is in Milan

New Inter-Eto'o meeting tonight or tomorrow

Asked about the negotiations on the transfer of Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (28), Inter Milan transfer market consultant Gabriele Oriali told Italian news agency Ansa that the negotiations are still ongoing:

"There's no deal yet, but you always need to be optimistic in life. We're working on it, we met with the agent of Eto'o and we will meet again tonight, maybe tomorrow. President Moratti didn't yet take part in the talks."

Read more:
Deal Inter-Eto'o will be announced soon
Eto'o is in Milan

Negotiations with Ibrahimovic didn't yet start

Asked about the reports linking Inter Milan forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (27) with a move to Barcelona, the player's agent Mino Raiola has repeated in an interview with Italian news agency ANSA that he didn't yet talk with Barcelona:

"The two clubs have found an agreement, now we'll see. As Zlatan said, if there really is a concrete interest, the deal could be done. But I have not yet spoken with Barcelona, I haven't been involved in any negotiation, I haven't signed anything, I didn't do anything so far."

Read more:
Principal agreement on Ibrahimovic transfer
Ibrahimovic denies Twitter statements

Thuram will retire

Asked about the future of former Barcelona central defender Lilian Thuram (36) who was close to joining his club (read more here), Paris Saint-Germain president Charles Villeneuve has said in an interview with Italian news agency ANSA that it looks like the player will retire because of a heart malformation:

"It's very likely that he will end his career, even if the new medical tests he underwent would bring good news. His sisters and the rest of his family urged him to stop playing. Personally I think it's unnecessary to take risks if you're thirty-six and you can look back on a great career."

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Thuram will receive the new results in the coming days and will announce his retirement shortly after that.

The contract of Thuram at Barcelona expired at the end of last season and with Barcelona not planning to offer the Frenchman a renewal (read more here), the player was free to negotiate with other clubs.

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Heart problem could cause end of Thuram's career

Deal between Thuram and PSG close

Valencia rejects Villa bid

Pirlo rejects Barcelona offer

Asked about the rumours linking him with a summer move to Barcelona (read more here), AC Milan midfielder and Italian international Andrea Pirlo (29) said in an interview with Italian news agency ANSA that he hasn't considered leaving Milan despite having received several offers:

"Personally I have not talked to anyone, but my agent Tinti has received offers from Spain and England. Of course this makes you feel good, but I've decided to stay with Milan. At this level one million more or less doesn't make the difference, it's more about the challenges and how you feel inside. Here in Milan I have everything I want and there is a new and exciting project."

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Barcelona interested in Pirlo

Mystery Milan player close to joining Barcelona

Milan announces Zambrotta transfer

Milan president confirms Ronaldinho interest

AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed today in an interview with Italian news agency ANSA that his club is trying to sign Barcelona playmaker and Brazilian international Ronaldinho (28): "I hope and think that we will be able to close the deal." Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport had claimed this morning that Berlusconi would have made clear to some friends that the transfer is almost sealed. The paper says that Milan would be wanting to pay 20 million euro° for Ronaldinho.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan would also be trying for months now, with the support of sponsor Nike, to convince Ronaldinho to join them. Inter manager Roberto Mancini repeated today at a press conference his interest in signing Ronaldinho: "Six months ago I said that I would sign him if it was possible. Now he might be for sale and he remains a great player. Even if he's going through a difficult time, he is a great player who can make the difference." The player's agent and brother, Roberto de Assís, nevertheless doesn't seem very keen on a deal with Inter.

In an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM, Roberto de Assís didn't want to pronounce on his visits to Milan and London in the past days nor on the future of Ronaldinho: "He just got injured, so this is not the best time to talk about this." Asked if the fans would ever see Ronaldinho in the Barcelona shirt again, Roberto ironically replied: "Since he has a contract until 2010, there will be enough time for that."