Juve legend Platini backs Inter

UEFA president Michel Platini has pledged his allegiance to European champions Inter Milan in their bid to claim the Club World Cup.

Platini, a Juventus legend, had no other choice but to throw his support behind the Serie A club.

“As President of UEFA, I guess I’m going to have to cheer on Inter,” Platini told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Since I was elected to this post, the trophy has always been won by European sides: Milan, Manchester United and Barcelona. I can’t ruin my record.”

Inter took three titles in a dominant season last campaign, but FIFA did not find room in the top three players in the world for midfielder and World Cup finalist Wesley Sneijder.

But Platini said Cup winners Spain, who have all three of the Ballon d’Or nominees Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez, were favoured because they won the final in South Africa.

“It’s only normal that the World Cup dictates the trophy, as Paolo Rossi was not the best player of 1982, but he was the best at that tournament,” Platini said.

“My personal vote would be for Xavi, then Sneijder who missed out on winning everything because of one goal, followed by Andres Iniesta. It’s not fair that the Inter star is not in the top three.”

Inter kick off their Club World Cup campaign off on Wednesday, with their opponent yet to be decided.