Andre Onana has revealed a message of support from compatriot Samuel Eto'o convinced him to join Inter, with the Cameroon legend telling the goalkeeper "you are a winner".
Onana completed his long-awaited move to Inter from Ajax on a free transfer at the start of July, ending a six-season stay with the Eredivisie champions.
The Cameroon international reportedly agreed a deal all the way back in January, with the 26-year-old expected to be the long-term replacement for Samir Handanovic.
Simone Inzaghi's side did not confirm the length of Onana's contract, though it is reported to run through until the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
Having traded Amsterdam for Milan, Onana suggested Eto'o, who was part of the Inter side that completed a stunning treble in 2009-10, played a role in his move to the Nerazzurri.
"It's a great club. From the moment I spoke with [sporting director] Piero Ausilio, he immediately gave me his word and he kept it," Onana told DAZN.
"The talk we had made an impact on me and I was very happy.
"I already knew Inter because of Eto'o, I talked to him before the transfer and he told me, you are a winner, Inter is the right club for you."
Onana is no stranger to playing for one of Europe's elite, having come through the acclaimed La Masia academy at Barcelona before moving to the youth setup at Ajax in 2015.
"These first days went well, I've learned a lot. I'm happy to be here at this club so close to the players, everything is going very well. I've been to Barcelona, to Amsterdam," he added.
"Being here I have noticed many different things but also some that are similar to Spain.
"For me the goalkeeping training, I'm really enjoying it here. Here you see football differently, there is a different way of thinking and I think this'll help me a lot."
Onana will hope to help Inter reclaim the Serie A title from fierce rivals Milan, with Inzaghi's side starting their league campaign at newly promoted Lecce on August 13.
Rumour Has It: Liverpool emerge as top suitors for Lazio midfielder Milinkovic-Savic
Liverpool are reportedly the most likely landing spot for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in the upcoming transfer window.
Milinkovic-Savic, 28, is in his eighth season at Lazio after arriving from Belgian side Genk ahead of the 2015-16 campaign. He has since racked up 330 appearances and 64 goals in all competitions.
A Serbia international with 39 senior caps, the central midfielder has been named Lazio's Player of the Season two years running but his only silverware to show from his stint in Italy is the 2019 Coppa Italia and a pair of Supercoppa Italiana victories in 2017 and 2019.
Milinkovic-Savic is expected to seek a new home next season at a regular Champions League contender, and compared to other in-demand central midfielders he will reportedly be available for an affordable fee.
TOP STORY – LIVERPOOL LEAD THE RACE FOR MILINKOVIC-SAVIC
According to Calciomercato, Milinkovic-Savic will be available in the off season for a fee in the range of €50million (£44m).
There is only one more year remaining on his current deal, meaning Lazio would likely be on board with a sale if they cannot agree on an extension.
Liverpool are named as the main club with both the interest and the capabilities to facilitate a deal – having been open about their desire to reinforce their midfield – while he is also a "dream" for Serie A rivals Juventus.
ROUND-UP
– Todo Fichajes are reporting Aston Villa are interested in making a move for Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku at the end of the season, as he is not expected to return to Stamford Bridge following his stint at Inter.
– According to Football Insider, Chelsea would like to bring in 23-year-old Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier to compete for the starting job with Kepa Arrizabalaga, and they are said to be more willing to meet the £30m asking price than fellow interested clubs Tottenham and Manchester United.
– United will look to part ways with club captain Harry Maguire and fellow defender Victor Lindelof after the season to make room and raise funds for incoming transfers, per Football Insider.
– Calciomercato are reporting Juventus and Inter are investigating the possibility of adding 32-year-old out-of-favour Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard.
– According to journalist Ekrem Konur, 27-year-old RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner could be heading back to the Premier League next season amid interest from unnamed clubs.
Inzaghi fumes over 'lack of respect' after VAR awards controversial Kostic winner
Simone Inzaghi feels Inter were shown a "lack of respect" after a VAR review decided to allow Filip Kostic's controversial winner in a 1-0 defeat to Juventus on Sunday.
Kostic lashed home the decisive goal after 23 minutes at San Siro, though a lengthy VAR check was needed to judge whether the ball had taken a touch off Adrien Rabiot's arm in the build-up.
The goal stood, and Juve went on to earn victory as the Bianconeri moved within nine points of third-placed Inter and seven points of the Champions League places.
It was Inter's third defeat from their last four Serie A outings, and Inzaghi was left fuming by the decision to allow Juve's winner to stand, though he was also proud of the way his players responded to what he felt was an injustice.
"The boys were good in the second half," Inzaghi told reporters in his post-match news conference. "At the end of the first half they saw what we suffered and it's unacceptable.
"Honestly to talk about football it's difficult for me, it was even difficult for me to talk to the team after the first half. We tried to remedy it, despite an unacceptable goal.
"There shouldn't be nervousness, but as far as the second half is concerned, the boys managed to keep calm to try to draw a match clearly spoiled by what happened.
"What happened is too serious. It's a lack of respect, and when I feel there are no images [of the incident], it's all the more so. It took four minutes.
"It's an irregular goal that penalises us, in a delicate moment, a delicate match. Conceding a goal like this is unacceptable."
When asked if he had spoken to referee Daniele Chiffi in hopes of clarification, Inzaghi replied: "No, it was so clear that it didn't seem right to me. There are such clear and glaring images."
The Nerazzurri have now won just one of their last five in all competitions, scoring just three goals across those games.
This latest blunt attacking display saw them muster just three shots on target despite having 69.4 per cent possession.
With the international break meaning Inter do not play again until April 1, Inzaghi is confident his players can use the league's pause to halt their poor run and enjoy a strong end to the season, explaining: "With all the matches we're going to play, I need everyone.
"You played a match that you shouldn't have played and you lost. The team would have deserved another result but this is football."
'Don't make me angry' – Allegri refutes referee criticism after controversial winner against Inter
Massimiliano Allegri passionately supported referee Daniele Chiffi's decision to award Filip Kostic's controversial winner after Juventus beat Inter 1-0 on Sunday.
Kostic drilled home brilliantly to give Juve the advantage after 23 minutes at San Siro but a lengthy VAR review followed to ascertain whether the ball had hit Adrien Rabiot's arm in the build-up.
However, the goal stood and Allegri's men would not relinquish that lead as Juve triumphed for the sixth time in their last seven Serie A games to move within seven points of the Champions League places.
When questioned on the decision to allow the goal, Allegri was quick to back Chiffi and the VAR's decision to stay with the original verdict.
"Don't make me angry," the Juve head coach told DAZN after the match. "The referee's decisions must be accepted. The decisions go one way or another.
"Let's not make a lot of noise, it wasn't easy for Chiffi to referee. Let's talk about football, not referees.
"I said if VAR is objective, then it is functional, but if it becomes subjective, that is a problem. This tonight is an objective case, we have not made any controversy.
"The less we talk about referees, the more we help them."
Juve completed the double over Inter while keeping a clean sheet in both games for the first time since the 1976-77 campaign, yet Allegri wants his side to be more ruthless going forward.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, the Italian said: "The boys trained well for this. It was a good game, winning in Milan isn't easy and it raises our confidence.
"We had a good match from a technical point of view, we conceded little against a strong and technical team.
"In the second half, however, we had to close it."
Allegri went down the tunnel before the final whistle, missing a fiery ending that saw Danilo D'Ambrosio and Leandro Paredes dismissed after the final whistle for their roles in a post-match confrontation.
Asked why he decided to make an early exit, Allegri told DAZN: "They didn't need me any more at that point.
"I was getting irritated, so rather than get myself booked or sent off, I decided it was best to leave. I left it in their hands, the players knew what they were doing."
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