Sneijder urges Inter to buy Kuyt

Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder has urged his Inter Milan team to snap up his international team-mate Dirk Kuyt.

Inter are known to be interested in the combative Liverpool forward, whose agent admitted on Friday that the two clubs are in contact.

“The two clubs are talking but nothing is finalised yet,” Robert Jansen told Calciomercato website.

Although he did add that Kuyt’s omission from the Liverpool team that faced Trabzonspor in the Europa League on Thursday night — which prevents him from being cup-tied in Europe should he move elsewhere — was “a signal”.

“I don’t know how far advanced the discussions are and I can’t even speculate on a price, those aspects relate to the clubs.

“(Kuyt) knows about this great interest in him and it’s no secret that he has a good relationship with (former Liverpool and now Inter Milan coach) Rafael Benitez.”

With Maro Balotelli leaving Inter for Manchester City, the Serie A champions need a replacement and Sneijder believes his compatriot would be the right man.

“With him it’s like playing with 12 and not 11 players,” Sneijder told Corriere dello Sport.

“Kuyt is always running for two and with the work that he does he’s always vital, whether for the national team or Liverpool.”

Kuyt and Sneijder were crucial elements in Holland’s run to the final of the World Cup last month, where they lost 1-0 to Spain.

It was part of a stunning season for Sneijder in which he and Inter also completed the treble in club football before he then got married in the summer.

“It’s been an incredible year, I won everything with Inter and that’s the best thing that can happen to a player,” he added.

“Also at the World Cup with Holland we did an exceptional job, unfortunately only in the final things didn’t go well.

“But South Africa was a great experience, then there was the wedding which was also a great moment.

“I can say that 2010 has been the best year of my life.”

Sneijder and Inter will begin the season for real on Saturday when they take on AS Roma in the season-opening Supercup, a test that both sides are taking seriously.

“Like us Roma haven’t changed much so I expect it to be complicated and difficult,” said Sneijder.

“It’s the first game of the season and I can’t wait to get out onto the pitch, not least because last time (in the Italian Cup final) I played for just one minute.”

Last season Roma finished runners-up to Inter in both the league and the Cup and Sneijder’s Brazilian team-mate Lucio says it’s only natural that these two teams should kick-off the new campaign.

“We’re the best two teams in Italy. The Supercup is the true starter for the championship,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Last season the giallorossi stuck with us right to the end of the season, both in the league and the cup.

“They’re the closest to us and have exceptional technical qualities as well as talented and experienced players.

“I expect it to be a match of a high level despite the time of the season and I hope the San Siro (in Milan) will be full.”