Inter may delve back into market

Inter Milan may be forced back into the transfer market because of an injury crisis in their defence.

The Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho gives instructions to Patrick Vieira.
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MILAN // Inter Milan may be forced back into the transfer market because of a crisis in their defence, as Marco Materazzi joined a growing injury list. The Italian champions lost Materazzi to a knock during yesterday's pre-season mini-tournament involving fellow Serie A sides AC Milan and Juventus in Turin. Fellow centre backs Walter Samuel, Cristian Chivu and Ivan Corboda are not yet fully fit for the Serie A kick-off on Aug 31 after all undergoing surgery in recent months.

"Materazzi's injury is definitely annoying as soon there will be an important match," the club's president Massimo Moratti told reporters. "Anyway, we'll decide in the next few days if we must return to the transfer market, it all depends on the extent of the injury." Inter, who had been keen on Chelsea's Frank Lampard and FC Porto's Ricardo Quaresma, said earlier in the week they would not be buying any more players after acquiring Sulley Muntari from Portsmouth.

Jose Mourinho's Inter lost 1-0 to Juve and 4-3 on penalties to AC Milan after a 0-0 draw. AC Milan won the 45-minutes per game tournament thanks to a penalty win over Juve following a 2-2 draw where Clarence Seedorf scored twice. *Reuters