• Serie A

Inter Milan rule out Mourinho return

Inter Milan President Massimo Moratti has dismissed speculation former coach Jose Mourinho will return to the San Siro in the summer.

The Real Madrid manager set tongues wagging after hinting his next coaching position could be at a "destination where I have coached before."

And the admission put Mourinho's former clubs, including Inter, Chelsea and Porto, on high alert should he leave Madrid and make himself available.

But Moratti was quick to pour cold water on returning the highly successful marriage between Mourinho and Inter despite the Portuguese coach winning Serie A (twice), the Italian Cup, the Supercoppa Italiana and the Champions League in his time in Milan.

"I exchanged some courtesy text messages with Mourinho," Moratti said. "Of course his loyalty and love for Inter are pleasing.

"(But) there aren't the right conditions for a return to Inter and I haven't discussed an eventual project with him."

The statement is another indication that current Inter coach, Andrea Stramaccioni, will remain with the club past the end of the season.

"I think so, yes," Moratti said. "We knew it would be a tough year, but I want to confirm him and he is picking up valuable experience for the future."

Another former Inter favourite, striker Mario Balotelli, has returned to Italy but now wears the colours of cross-town rival AC Milan.

But despite turning out the bitterest of foes, Moratti is happy to see the former Inter junior again playing with a smile upon his face after a number of in-different seasons at Manchester City.

"I still have great respect for the player," Moratti said. "We knew that we wouldn't bring him back once he went to Manchester City, but I note he is maturing a great deal and I'm happy about that."

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