Ranieri: Sneijder going nowhere

Inter Milan coach Claudio Ranieri is adamant Dutch midfield ace Wesley Sneijder will not be leaving the club in January.

The 27-year-old has been repeatedly linked with Manchester United over the past six months but Ranieri said Sneijder is staying put.

“He is an Inter player and he will remain with us,” Ranieri said.

Inter are reportedly not interested in making Argentine winger Mauro Zarate’s loan from Lazio a permanent arrangement, but Ranieri said he was keen to hang on to the 24-year-old.

“I rate him highly and I hope that he can do well for Inter,” the former Chelsea boss said. “He is a player who has it all but at times his brain stops and he needs a shock.”

Ranieri believes winger Ricardo Alvarez, who has proven similarly inconsistent this season, will become a good player at San Siro.

“He is young and needs to adapt,” Ranieri said. “You know what I think of this boy: he has a great future but maybe he is not yet completely ready.”

“But it will certainly happen for him.”

Inter are fifth in Serie A despite a dreadful start to the season, and they return to league action after the mid-season break with a game against Parma at home on Saturday.