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Benitez boosted by double deal

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Inter Milan manager Rafael BenitezNew Inter Milan boss Rafael Benitez has received a boost ahead of the Serie A season after Argentine duo Javier Zanetti and Diego Milito agreed to extend their stay at the Giuseppe Meazza (Inter favourites and priced at evens to win the Serie A).

There were fears that Inter’s treble winning team may be broken up following Jose Mourinho’s decision to move on and become Real Madrid manager, but so far this has proved not to be the case.

Veteran defender Zanetti has now agreed a two year extension, keeping him at the club until June 2013, while Milito has agreed a 12 month extension and will stick with the Nerazzurri until June 2014.

Zanetti has been with Inter since 1995 and the 36-year-old could end his career with the Serie A giants after agreeing new terms.

Milito joined Inter last summer from Genoa and scored 30 goals in his first season.  The Argentina international had been linked with a move to Real Madrid but has ended speculation surrounding his future by agreeing new terms with the Milan side.

He said: “I will always be grateful to a great club like Inter for choosing me, and to president (Massimo) Moratti for his faith in me.”

However, former Liverpool boss Benitez has largely struggled to secure his top targets this summer.  The Spaniard is eager to be reunited with Liverpool star Javier Mascherano but the Anfield side have refused to budge on their asking price for the tough tackling midfielder and the two parties seem to have reached a stalemate as far as the deal is concerned.

Inter secured the Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia titles last season under the guidance of the Portuguese special one and there are high expectations ahead of the new season despite a change in manager.

Inter are the favourites to secure the Serie A title for a sixth successive time, although their 2005/06 title was awarded in the wake of the 2006 Calciopoli Scandal. Meanwhile, AC Milan, Juventus and Roma are all priced at 4/1 with totesport. The Italian league could be a four-horse race this season with the likes of Fiorentina (33/1), Napoli and Sampdoria (both 66/1) given little chance by pundits ahead of the start of the season.

Benitez could be on course for success in the Serie A but the Champions League will be a difficult title to defend.  Spanish giants Barcelona (10/3f) and Real Madrid (4/1) are expected to dominate Europe’s top tournament this season, while Manchester United (15/2) and Chelsea (6/1) could also be in contention to take the top prize (Inter 12/1 to win the Champions League).

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Reds boosted by defender deal

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Manchester United’s hopes of winning the Premier League (5/2 to win title) have been boosted by the news Nemanja Vidic has penned a new deal but Rio Ferdinand could be missing for another six weeks.

Central defence is a key area as Manchester United look to win the title back from Chelsea, but at one stage it looked as though neither of the influential duo would be in the first team for the opening-day clash at home to Newcastle (United 1/5 to win).

Ferdinand will be missing as he battles to recover from the knee injury that he picked up at the World Cup with England but at least Vidic will be on board after penning a new deal.

The Serbian had been strongly linked with a move away from the club with Real Madrid known to be keen but thankfully from a United point of view, Vidic has had a word with the wife and all now appears to be well.

Rumours suggested that Vidic would seek a move as his wife was not settled living in England but they have now been dispelled as the player has penned an extension which means he will be at Old Trafford for the next four years, much to the delight of Sir Alex Ferguson.

“Over the last year or so there has been speculation about Nemanja time and time again, sometimes by the press, sometimes fuelled by other sources,” Fergie revealed.

“But we never had a strong feeling he really wanted to leave. There is always concern if they do well they want better contracts. At the end of the day we have managed to achieve the task of getting him to agree a four-year contract.

“We are delighted, he is fantastic centre-half, a great competitor with a marvellous attitude to winning games. It strengthens our hand.”

With Vidic in place for the long-term barring any injuries, Ferguson is now hoping to get Ferdinand back as soon as possibile but it looks like being another six weeks.

Ferguson does have other options in the form of Jonny Evans, Wes Brown and Chris Smalling and the Reds boss will have to turn to one of those three while Ferdinand battles back.

Fergie has been linked with central defenders all summer but now that Vidic has pledged his future to the club it seems as though that search is on hold even if doubts persist over the fitness of Ferdinand.

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Germans boosted by injury news

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Germany star Bastian SchweinsteigerGermany are 15/8 to beat England on Sunday and their chances of victory have been boosted by the news Bastian Schweinsteiger, Jerome Boateng and Mesut Ozil should all be fit to play.

The Germans defeated Ghana 1-0 on Wednesday night on their way to winning Group D but the victory came at a cost, with a number of key players picking up knocks.

Schweinsteiger appeared to be the biggest doubt after picking up what was initially thought to be a thigh problem. Germany have now confirmed that the influential midfielder is struggling with a hamstring strain but still expect him to be fit for the massive game against Fabio Capello’s men.

Schweinsteiger is 14/1 to grab the first goal if he is passed fit and assistant coach Hans-Dieter Flick is confident he will make it along with Boateng and Ozil, who have calf and ankle injuries respectively.

“Jerome has a bit of a calf strain and Schweini (Schweinsteiger) has a hamstring problem and for both I have to admit it might be a bit critical for them to be in the starting line-up on Sunday, but we are optimistic,” Flick revealed.

“Ozil seems to have twisted his ankle but he is not in pain and I think we will get him fit for Sunday’s game.”

Bayer Leverkusen youngster Toni Kroos is on standby to step in should Schweinsteiger miss out but Flick does not sound too concerned.

“He certainly is an alternative, but as far as Bastian Schweinsteiger is concerned I think we can have reasons to be optimistic,” he added.

“I’ve spoken to the team doctor and he says the recovery time is comparatively short. We just hope he’s in the starting line-up and fit to play because he’s become a key player.”

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