Diego Forlan, 32, is nearing the end of his recovery from a muscle strain that has kept him out of the game since October.
Reports said the Uruguay striker is now back in training for Inter and could feature again before Christmas.
“I don’t know when I’ll be back exactly but I’m desperate to play,” Forlan told reporters.
“I haven’t been able to contribute much since I joined, in what hasn’t been an easy period, so I can’t wait to be able to help the team.”
Forlan has played in just five Serie A games so far this season.
Gary is honest, says brother Phil
Everton captain Phil Neville maintains his brother Gary is always “honest” in his new role as a television pundit.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas was left “gobsmacked” after the former Manchester United skipper’s outspoken assessment of his side’s deficiencies in recent weeks – which included a claim defender David Luiz had played against Liverpool like being controlled by a 10-year-old using a PlayStation.
Neville, though, feels his brother just tells things “how it is”.
“Gary has been fantastic – he has impressed everybody. I think he has won over a lot of people, and has won over a lot of people by being honest,” said the Everton midfielder.
Bobic blasts dramatic Robben
Stuttgart director of sport Fredi Bobic felt Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben’s reaction to a foul played a crucial role in his side’s defeat on Sunday.
Bayern won 2-1 as Stuttgart’s chances were compromised by the dismissal of Cristian Molinaro shortly before the half-hour mark.
The Italian full-back’s second yellow card came for a tackle on Robben.
“World-class players like Robben like to wait for such situations,” Bobic said.
“Referees are not corrupt, but they do have respect for such players and I can understand that. If Robben had not been so dramatic, then there would not have been a yellow card.”
Tokyo holiday for Barca players
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said he would give his men a brief holiday in Tokyo ahead of their Club World Cup semi-final on Thursday.
The Catalans arrived in Tokyo late Sunday. The squad had just half a day’s rest before hitting the pitch to train in Yokohama as they prepare for a semi-final clash against Asian champions Al Sadd.
“I will give my players as much free time as possible. I will take them to go sightseeing in Tokyo.
“Especially, we want to eat a variety of genuine Japanese dishes,” Guardiola said.
Milito gets unwanted award
Off-form Inter striker Diego Milito is the unlucky winner of the Bidone d’Oro award for the worst player of 2011 in Italy.
The Argentine has had a year to forget after struggling for form and goals. He was handed the yearly tongue-in-cheek prize by Radio 2 show Catersport who ask their listeners to vote for the poorest player of the solar year.
The former Genoa forward succeeds Adriano who won the 2010 honour while under-performing at Roma. The Brazilian also ‘succeeded’ in 2006 and 2007.
Juventus striker Amauri was runner-up for the second consecutive year.
Celtic fined
UEFA yesterday announced a fine of €15,000 against Celtic for “illicit” chanting at last month’s home Europa League match against Rennes.
UEFA’s control and disciplinary panel imposed the fine after the match delegate was informed of pro-IRA chanting by the police match commander on Nov. 3.
Celtic beat Rennes 3-1 in that match and continue their Europa League campaign against Udinese in Italy on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Celtic escaped Scottish Premier League action over pro-IRA chanting, the league ruling the club had taken all reasonable action to prevent such “unacceptable conduct”, which was reported by police following a goalless draw against Hibernian on October 29.
Neymar as good as Zico – Ramalho
Neymar is up there with some of the greatest footballers ever including Zico and Rivelino, Santos coach Muricy Ramalho says.
The prodigious 19-year-old on Friday said at the Club World Cup that he would never be as good as Pele and insisted that Lionel Messi was currently the best in the world.
Asked if his man was up there with the likes of Zico and Rivelino, Ramalho said: “Yes. Neymar is certainly on this level.
“A great is a genius who sees the play before the others do. And that is rare. The best I saw was Zico... Neymar is on this level... the way that he plays is absurd.”