Stramaccioni braced for Maicon´s departure

Andrea Stramaccioni says Manchester City target Maicon may be set to leave Inter Milan.

Brazil fullback Maicon is reportedly edging closer to a move to English Premier League champions City, while team-mate Julio Cesar has already departed for Queens Park Rangers.

“I will always thank Julio Cesar, as he helped me when I arrived here, but the club choices go beyond affection,” Inter coach Stramaccioni told Football Italia.

“I think it’s only right that Julio salute the fans.

“As for Maicon, the situation was already clear from the start,” he said.

“We won’t be caught unprepared, as we have with Javier Zanetti and Jonathan.”

“Obviously Maicon has unique characteristics and we’ll see what happens up to the transfer window.

“If he stays, we will all be happy.”

City’s attempts to sign the Brazilian defender were stepped up this week as the club learnt it would take a bid of 5.5 million pounds to prise him away from Inter following an initial offer of 4 million pounds.

Meanwhile, Stramaccioni urged his team to not get complacent ahead of Thursday’s Europa League play-off with Vaslui.

The Italians go into the match having won the first leg 2-0 in Romania.

“Vaslui are an excellent side who caused us problems in the first leg,” Stramaccioni said.

“We don’t want to get it wrong, as qualification is incredibly important because Inter have to be present in Europe.”