Mancini denies Figo transfer rumours

Internazionale coach Roberto Mancini has poured cold water on speculation Luis Figo is poised to join Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad.

Al Ittihad team manager Hamad Al Sanie announced last week a deal was “official” and that the former FIFA World Player of the Year would sign a 17-month contract over the weekend.

That did not materialise and, even though rumours in the Middle East suggest the deal could go through on Thursday, Mancini, speaking from the club’s training base in Bahrain, is adamant Figo will remain at the San Siro.

He told www.inter.it: “Figo is an Inter player and he will stay at Inter.”

Inter currently lead Serie A by seven points from Roma but Mancini is still expected to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window.

One player who has been consistently linked with the Nerazzurri is former England captain David Beckham, whose contract at Real Madrid expires in the summer.

Mancini refused to be drawn on the issue, however, stating: “Beckham is a Real Madrid player, and out of respect I never talk about players at other clubs.”