Wesley Sneijder to remain at Inter Milan until 2015
Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder has signed a contract extension with Italian champions Inter Milan that will keep him at the San Siro until 2015.
Sneijder was integral to Inter's treble victory last season, when the team won the Coppa Italia, Serie A and the Champions League under manager Jose Mourinho. He also led the Dutch national team to their first World Cup final since 1978.
Since the end of the World Cup, intense speculation has linked the 26-year-old to several of Europe's top clubs, one being Manchester United, but Sneijder has now agreed to remain with Inter.
"The fans will be happy above all else because we have today [Thursday October 28] reached an agreement with Wesley Sneijder for a contract extension until 2015," Inter president Massimo Moratti was quoted as saying on Inter's official website. "Sneijder
became a key player for Inter last season and will be this year, and for many years to come."
Favourite to win the Ballon d'Or
Sneijder was one of four Inter players to be nominated for FIFA's Ballon d'Or award this year, along with Samuel Eto'o, Maicon and Julio Cesar.
With four goals in the World Cup and match-deciding performances during Inter's run in the Champions League to his name last season, Sneijder has been held as one of the favourites to win the award.
"Everyone is free to say that someone else must win, but it's so clear that it will be up to him. He launched Inter to the treble win and Holland to the World Cup final," Moratti said about Sneijder's chances, before adding that Diego Milito, who scored
30 goals for Inter last season, should also have been nominated.
"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 Eto'o. Why ignore them? They deserve it too, as does Diego Milito who has absurdly been omitted from the list."
Tags: