Fredy Guarin... topping the transfer window headlines.

Inter are hoping that their decision to pull out of an agreed swap involving Fredy Guarin, which critics say has badly damaged the club’s credibility, will have at least placated their restless fans.

Inter, joint fifth in Serie A, host joint-bottom club Catania tomorrow after a turbulent week in which fan power appeared to be decisive in persuading club president Erick Thohir to call off the deal to exchange Guarin for Juventus forward Mirko Vucinic.

The Indonesian business tycoon abandoned the deal after fans wrote an open letter of protest and then gathered outside the club offices on Tuesday.

The decision angered Juve, who said their bitter rivals had shown a lack of respect to both players and treated them unfairly.

Inter have won only one out of eight Serie A games since Thohir replaced Massimo Moratti in November and the new president has upset fans by warning them that the club are in a transitional period.

Thohir took over after the International Sports Capital consortium, owned by himself and two Indonesian partners, paid €75 million and took on all of Inter’s debt of about €180 million in exchange for a 70 per cent stake.

Guarin’s future remains uncertain, with media speculation now saying that he may move to an English Premier League club before the end of the transfer window.

The Colombian midfielder, who joined Inter two years ago, has been given two days’ off following the collapse of the deal, according to Italian media.

Milito’s views

Forward Diego Milito said there were no hard feelings against Guarin, who has reacted angrily to being substituted on a couple of occasions.

“We’ll welcome him as we always have done because he’s a great team-mate and he’s always given so much,” the Argentine striker said.

“All I can say is that Fredy needs to stay calm, whether he stays or goes... the rest of us are just thinking about our next match.”

Defender Hugo Campagnaro said he hoped fans would save any jeers for the final whistle.

“The team is working very hard, but if we don’t start winning again soon things will get tricky and morale will dip,” he said.

“We know the fans want a win, we expect them to support us over the course of the 90 minutes, then if they want to boo that’s their prerogative because they’re paying customers.”

Inter have 32 points in the standings, 11 behind Napoli who are third in the Champions League play-off spot.

Inter’s neighbours Milan are also in crisis mode after their shock Coppa Italia exit at home to Udinese on Wednesday in coach Clarence Seedorf’s second match in charge.

Eleventh-placed Milan (25 points), who gave Seedorf a winning debut at home to Verona, visit Cagliari tomorrow.

“When you play for a big club, you know the demands are high, but I told the lads to be as calm as possible,” said the Dutchman, who replaced Massimiliano Allegri one week ago.

“I want hard work and effort to turn the situation around. I said one victory wouldn’t change everything.

Leaders Juventus, knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Roma on Tuesday, will be looking for their 13th league win on the trot when they visit Lazio this evening in what is threatening to become a one-horse race.

Roma, eight points behind in second place, are at Verona tomorrow while Napoli, a further four points behind, host Chievo today.

Serie A

Playing today
Napoli vs Chievo - 18.00
Lazio vs Juventus - 20.45

Tomorrow – 15.00
Cagliari vs Milan
Fiorentina vs Genoa - 20.45
Inter vs Catania
Livorno vs Sassuolo
Parma vs Udinese
Sampdoria vs Bologna
Torino vs Atalanta
Verona vs Roma - 12.30

Standings: Juventus 55; Roma 47; Napoli 43; Fiorentina 40; Inter, Verona 32; Parma, Torino 29; Lazio 27; Genoa 26; Milan 25; Atalanta 24; Sampdoria, Cagliari 21; Udinese 20; Chievo, Sassuolo, Bologna 17; Livorno, Catania 13.

Serie B
Played yesterday
Trapani vs Padova - 2-1

Today – 15.00
Bari vs Reggina
Carpi vs Ternana
Cittadella vs Spezia
Juve Stabia vs Pescara
Latina vs Empoli
Novara vs Avellino
Palermo vs Modena
Varese vs Cesena
V. Lanciano vs Brescia

Monday
Crotone vs Siena - 20.30

Leading standings: Palermo 40; Empoli 39; Avellino 37; Pescara 34; Lanciano, Trapani 33; Crotone 32.