Wesley Sneijder wants Ibrahim Afellay at Inter Milan
Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder hopes that his international teammate Ibrahim Afellay joins him at Inter Milan.
Afellay, who plays for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie, has been the subject of intense transfer speculation in recent weeks.
The midfielder, who has five goals in nine appearances for PSV this season, recently scored two goals, his first for the national team, and claimed one assist in the Netherlands' Euro 2012 qualifier against Sweden in Amsterdam.
Afellay was first called up to the national team by former coach Marco van Basten in 2007. He made three substitute appearances in this year's World Cup and featured in three games during the 2008 European championships.
His performances this season have impressed several clubs around Europe. Premier League sides Everton, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have all reported interest in signing Afellay, who has stated that playing for the latter two clubs would be his
preference.
But Sneijder, who combined well with Afellay in the match against Sweden, setting him up for one goal and his assist, said that he wants the 24-year-old to play alongside him at Inter.
"Afellay is ready for the next step. He should leave Holland and would fit in well at Inter," the playmaker told Dutch weekly
Voetbal International. "I told him that myself, he knows what we think of him here at Inter. I like playing with him because he understands me—and that's not easy."
Cash-strapped PSV could be forced to sell
Afellay has said he will focus on PSV while the transfer window is closed, but the club, which is reported to be facing financial difficulties, is likely to offload the prospect in the January transfer window.
Fred Rutten, manager of PSV, has said that losing Afellay would be a blow to the club, but that financial aspects will play a part if the midfielder chooses to leave.
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