Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder has signed a new long-term contract with the club until June 2015.
Dutch midfielder signs on until June 2015
Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder has signed a new long-term contract with the club until June 2015.
The 26-year-old Holland international has been strongly linked with a move away from the San Siro in recent weeks, with Premier League outfit Manchester United thought to be chasing his signature.
However, the World Cup finalist has now put pen-to-paper on a new deal with the Nerazzurri, quashing speculation that he could be on his way out of Giuseppe Meazza.
Inter president Massimo Moratti confirmed the news at a shareholders meeting on Thursday, after Sneijder had previously underlined his intention to stay.
The former Real Madrid and Ajax man moved to the club last summer and played an integral part in firing Jose Mourinho's side to a superb treble which included winning Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League.
Now Rafa Benitez is the man at the helm and after a tricky start to the campaign, it had been suggested that Sneijder was considering his options.
But he has now committed to the cause at Inter as Benitez tries to repeat the remarkable achievements of last season.
Agreement
"The fans will be happy above all else because we have today reached an agreement with Wesley Sneijder for a contract extension until 2015," club president Moratti told Inter's
official website.
"Sneijder became a key player for Inter last season and will be this year, and for many years to come.
"The negotiations started despite the fact he had a long time to go on his old deal (which ran out in 2013) but with mutual satisfaction they were completed this morning."
Sneijder was recently named on the list of nominees for the Fifa Ballon d'Or award, and club president Moratti believes he has a fighting chance.
"Everyone is free to say that someone else must win, but it's so clear that it
will be up to him," he added.
"He launched Inter to the treble win and Holland to the World Cup final.
"I have spoken about Sneijder winning the Ballon d'Or, but let's not forget
there are other candidates.
"There is Maicon, Julio Cesar and (Samuel) Eto'o. Why ignore them?
"They deserve it to as does Diego Milito who has absurdly been omitted from
the list."
