Moratti takes Maicon off the market

The transfer was almost complete, to the degree that the only obstacle was thought to be his wage demands.

However, over the last couple of days Coach Rafa Benitez and captain Javier Zanetti have publicly urged the right-back to remain at San Siro.

According to many Italian news sources, President Massimo Moratti met with technical director Marco Branca this evening to discuss the situation.

It’s suggested Moratti himself made the decision to take Maicon off the market regardless of how much Real Madrid could offer for the Brazilian.

If Mario Balotelli is heading for Manchester City – with Roberto Mancini claiming the deal will be done by Thursday – Inter do not want to weaken their side further by losing Maicon.

With this move from Moratti coming only days after Benitez publicly said that he does not want Maicon to leave, shows that Moratti is listening very closely to the advice of new coach Benitez.