Uncertainty remains over Maicon’s Real switch

Brazil full-back Maicon’s proposed switch from European champions Inter Milan to Spanish giants Real Madrid is still shrouded in uncertainty as nerazzurri president Massimo Moratti on Monday admitted he was in the dark.

Maicon’s proposed move to Real, to rejoin former Inter boss Jose Mourinho, with whom he won an unprecedented treble last season, has been one of the longest running transfer sagas of the summer.

But after reports surfaced in the Italian press on Monday that Moratti had taken Maicon off the transfer market, the president told reporters: “I know less than you do.”

Maicon’s agent Antonio Caliendo was equally vague when he told Italian news agency Ansa: “I can’t make any comment, we’ll talk (on Monday).”

The move is believed to have stumbled over each team’s evaluation of the 29-year-old right-back’s worth.

Real are rumoured to have offered 24 million euros, with Inter wanting 30 million euros.

One thing is for sure, new Inter coach Rafael Benitez wants to keep the former Monaco player on his books.

“Maicon is without a doubt a good player who made a difference in many matches last season,” said Benitez.

“He’s an important player for us, we know Real Madrid are interested in him but, I repeat, he’s important for us.

“He’s here and right now we think that he wants to win, as the whole team does, together.”

Inter’s evergreen club captain Javier Zanetti, also pleaded with his South American team-mate to stay with the club.

“We hope Maicon will stay with us, he’s the best full-back we have and also in the world. If he stays it will be very important for us.