Inter president Massimo Moratti has played down a disagreement with coach Roberto Mancini over tactics in Sunday's 2-1 derby defeat by Milan.
Moratti said earlier in the week that the Serie A leaders, who could have won the title with a victory, had been too cautious in the game. Mancini openly said on Tuesday he did not agree.
After the squad met the Pope ahead of the Italian Cup semi-final second leg with Lazio in Rome last night, Moratti tried to calm the row. "Many times a person feels obliged to reply to make clear their own position and unintentionally a situation of contrast is born," Moratti told reporters.
"In reality we are pulling in the same direction. Also next season? Yes I think so."
Moratti gave Pope Benedict an Inter jersey with "Benedict XVI" written in gold and also presented the pontiff with an almanac celebrating Inter's centenary this year.
Beckenbauer eyes Gattuso for Bayern
Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso would fit in perfectly at Bayern Munich, club president Franz Beckenbauer has said.
Gattuso said last week he would consider his future at the end of the season. "Is it true that Gattuso wants to leave Milan? I like him. He would be an important player for Bayern in the Champions League. Or rather he would be perfect," Beckenbauer told yesterday's Gazzetta dello Sport.
Another Italian, Luca Toni, has thrilled Bayern this season with over 20 league goals in their run to the Bundesliga title. Reports have reported Milan may be considering a bid but Beckenbauer said Toni was not for sale.
Prosecutor goes ahead with Capello court probe
England coach Fabio Capello will face a full investigation into whether he withheld information to an Italian court, judicial sources said yesterday.
An Italian prosecutor said on March 31 he intended to bring a case against Capello after he gave evidence in a trial of six men accused of fostering unfair competition through the use of threats or violence as part of Italy's Gea World sports agency.
Under Italian law, a person found guilty of false testimony in court can be jailed for up to six years.
Former Juventus director Antonio Giraudo is also under investigation after evidence he gave to the trial, which is still ongoing, contrasted with that of Juve striker David Trezeguet.
Scolari will not rush decision on future
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, reportedly the target of English Premier League side Manchester City, is unlikely to decide on his future before Euro 2008.
British media reported yesterday that Manchester City have made an offer to Scolari and that the deadline for him to accept is before the start of the Euro 2008 finals next month. "It is very unlikely that Scolari makes any decision now, one month ahead of the championship," a source close to the Brazilian coach said yesterday.
Man. City's Asian tour confirmed despite boycott reports
Manchester City's tour of Asia will go ahead, the club said yesterday, despite reports of a possible boycott by players over the uncertain future of manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
City are due to play matches in Thailand and Hong Kong at the end of the season but reports that billionaire Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra had decided to sack Eriksson have angered fans and players.
"The media speculation does not affect the visit," spokesman Paul Tyrell said in an e-mail sent to Thai media. "Mr Eriksson will be attending."
Boca given home ban after linesman hit by ice cube
South American champions Boca Juniors have been banned from staging international matches at their Bombonera stadium after a linesman was hit by an ice cube during a game last week.
The South American Football Confederation (CSF) said in a statement that the ban would be lifted once the Argentine club had improved protection in front of the VIP boxes, where the incident occurred.
The club were also fined $30,000.
Atl. Madrid hit with fine after racial abuse
Atletico Madrid have been fined a reported €3,000 by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after fans chanted racist abuse at Recreativo Huelva's French striker Florent Sinama Pongolle during their Primera Liga match at the Calderon last weekend.
The RFEF's disciplinary committee also handed Levante's French midfielder Mathieu Berson a three-match ban for threatening the referee after being sent off against Espanyol.