Castellazzi: "Proud to be at Inter"

"First of all, I want to thank Inter. I am very proud to become a Nerazzurri player," said the 34-year-old goalkeeper, born in Gorgonzola in the province of Milan on 19 July 1975. "I can't wait to start and put myself at the service of Rafael Benitez. I feel great joy."

Castellazzi, who is currently on holiday in Mexico with his wife, joins the Nerazzurri after five years at Sampdoria. "It is an honour for me to become part of the Inter family," he said. "I'm joining a very strong team that has had an exceptional year.

"On a physical level I feel great. I had a fantastic first half of the season, perhaps the best of my career, but then I got injured in in Naples in January, but all things considered it was a slight injury, despite fearing the worst at the start. I was out for a few months but I was back in March, although Sampdoria no longer considered me because I didn't renew my contract. I knew my time at Sampdoria would end.

"I'm fine now, I have done the medical tests and everything is fine. I'm at one hundred percent.

"For all the Inter fans, the players and the club, the month of May was incredible, exceptional. It was nice to live these triumphs from the outside. I was already following Inter because contact had been made with the club, so Inter had an extra fan in these months.

"Inter is a great group, a great club and I am very proud to be here. It will be a great honour to work alongside Julio Cesar, who is the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment in terms of quality and continuity. As an opponent I have always had an excellent impression and I am convinced that it will be the same with him as a team-mate."