Mazzarri replaces Stramaccioni at Inter

Inter Milan has parted company with head coach Andrea Stramaccioni after his first full season as a Serie A coach ended in huge disappointment, with Walter Mazzarri confirmed as his replacement.



The 37-year-old Stramaccioni has paid the price after only guiding Inter to a ninth-placed finish - a worst performance since 1994 - while overseeing 16 league defeats in the 2012-2013 campaign.



Mazzarri, who announced his decision to leave runner-up Napoli last weekend, has been named as Inter's new coach on a two-year deal.



A statement published on inter.it read: "Inter would like to communicate that they have reached an agreement with Walter Mazzarri - the new coach of Inter.



"Inter thank Andrea Stramaccioni for his great efforts and the professionalism he showed in a particularly difficult year.



"The agreement with Walter Mazzarri will last for two years."

Zanetti surgery a success

Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti has undergone successful surgery on his Achilles tendon and is expected to be out for around six months.



The 39-year-old Argentinian ruptured his left Achilles during his side's 1-0 Serie A defeat at Palermo and went under the knife at Pavia's Policlinico San Matteo on Tuesday afternoon.



Professor Franco Benazzo, who performed the operation, told Inter's official website: "The operation was a complete success.



"How long will it take him to recover? He'll have his foot in a cast for the next three weeks and won't be able to walk on it, then he will start to walk in phase two of his physiotherapy.



"As ever in cases like these we're looking at six months out of action."



Benazzo added: "Is there a chance he might lose a bit of fitness after an operation like this? In general terms no, but locally the muscle mass will decrease slightly during the time his foot's immobile.



"But the Inter medical staff have shown over the years that they can get players fit who have suffered from more serious injuries than a snapped Achilles."

Zanetti vows to return

Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti vowed to return stronger than ever after rupturing the Achilles tendon in his left foot during yesterday's 1-0 Serie A defeat at Palermo.

Zanetti underwent tests at Pavia's Policlinico San Matteo last night after being forced off the pitch in the 17th minute at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.



The 39-year-old Argentinian looks set to face a lengthy absence, but insisted he had no plans to call it a day.



"My goal is to come back stronger than before, and I believe (I can)," he said on www.inter.it. "I had to change tyres after so many miles... I'm sorry for how the season has gone.



"Injuries can happen and they're part of this profession. The most important thing is the team. We'll decide when surgery will take place.



"They still haven't given me the timescale involved, but my career certainly isn't over.



"What matters is healing well. What I want most is to be back with my team-mates."



Yesterday's result dealt a blow to the Nerazzurri's hopes of securing European football next season, leaving them in seventh spot - two points off a Europa League berth.



Josip Ilicic scored the only goal of the game after 10 minutes to lift the hosts out of the bottom three on goal difference.



Zanetti continued: "I'm sorry I can't give (my team-mates) a hand in the final part of the season, but I'm confident they'll be able to qualify for the Europa League.



"I appreciate the messages from the fans, as well as those from president (Massimo) Moratti, my team-mates and the many others who have shown their support."

Injury concern for Inter captain Zanetti

Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti ruptured his Achilles' tendon during the 1-0 loss at Palermo on Sunday, the latest mishap in a season coach Andrea Stramaccioni has described as cursed.





Italian media speculated that the Argentine - 40 in August - could be out for up to eight months and that, considering his age, the injury could even spell the end of his career.

Zanetti, who is two years older than his coach, dismissed the notion telling Inter's website (www.inter.it): "My aim is to return stronger than before. I have to change tyres after many kilometres.

"We will decide when to operate. They haven't told me a recovery time but my career is certainly not over, the important thing is to get better."

Zanetti was speaking after having a scan near Milan which confirmed the rupture.

"It's a big blow and we really didn't need this injury to Javier," Stramaccioni said earlier.

"Losing him today certainly hurts us in a very difficult moment."

The remarkably consistent Zanetti has made more than 800 appearances for Inter, including over 600 in Serie A, since joining the club from Banfield in 1995 and has never before suffered a serious injury.

He has won five Serie A titles, four Italian Cups, one Champions League, one UEFA Cup and one Club World Cup and is also Argentina's most capped player.

"I felt a pull at one point, I'm not sure if anyone touched me, and it really hurt," Zanetti told Mediaset Premium. "I will overcome this as well."

Inter have suffered a string of injuries in the last few weeks and were missing Rodrigo Palacio, Diego Milito, Walter Samuel, Antonio Cassano, Walter Gargano and Fredy Guarin for the trip to Sicily.

In the last few weeks, Stramaccioni's team have dropped to seventh in Serie A, ending their hopes of Champions League football next season, been knocked out of the Europa League by Tottenham Hotspur and been beaten by AS Roma in the Italian Cup semi-final.

"It's a curse," agreed defender Andrea Ranocchia, who took the armband from Zanetti in the 17th minute. "We seem to be losing two players a game. It's just incredible.




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Inter Milan fined for racist abuse

UEFA has fined Inter Milan 45,000 euros (US Dollars 58,500) for its fans' racist abuse against Tottenham forward Emmanuel Adebayor during a Europa League match.



UEFA's sanction included charges over other crowd issues, including Inter's "insufficient organization" of the match, plus objects thrown and fireworks lit by fans.



Adebayor's extra-time goal in a 4-1 loss was decisive in the last-16 match at the San Siro last month as Tottenham advanced on away goals. The two-legged series finished 4-4.



UEFA says its disciplinary panel also fined Benfica 32,000 euros (USD 41,600) for crowd incidents against Bordeaux.

Palacio could be out for weeks

Inter Milan's bid for a top three finish in Italy's Serie A has suffered a blow after top scorer Rodrigo Palacio's thigh injury could rule him our for several weeks.



Argentine international Palacio scored a brace on Thursday (AEDT) as Inter claimed a precious 2-0 win away to Sampdoria in a fixture that had been postponed from 17 March.



The Nerazzurri host Atalanta on Monday but Palacio looks likely to play no part after he hobbled out of training on Friday clutching the back of his left thigh.



Palacio went immediately for scans and Inter later confirmed: "Rodrigo Palacio underwent scans which showed a muscular problem in the posterior region of the left thigh."



Reports in Italy are already speculating that Palacio, who with 12 goals is Inter's top scorer this season in the absence of already-injured compatriot Diego Milito, could miss several of his side's remaining eight games.



Inter currently sits in fifth place, 18 points behind champion and leader Juventus and seven points adrift of city rival AC Milan, which occupies the third and last possible qualifying spot for next season's UEFA Champions League.

Mourinho: I spent two fantastic years

Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho recently admitted that he has found memories of managing Inter Milan in the Italian Serie A and if he did go back at some point, with would be with “great pleasure and excitement.”

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In a recent interview with Coordown.it (a National Coordinator for people with Down Syndrome), Mourinho revealed that he holds a special place in his heart for the Nerazzurri, and would be delighted to return at some point.



“I spent two fantastic years in Italy, at Inter.



“I do not know if I will go back someday, but if I do it will be with great pleasure and excitement.”



Coordown.it has organised 50 videos from celebrities to show their support for people with Down Syndrome, with 21 celebrities already supporting the cause, such as; Antonio Cassano, Francesco Totti, Andrea Ranocchia, Javier Zanetti, Marco Materazzi and singers, Tiziano Ferro and Jovanotti.