Moratti: Inter are not blackmailing Sneijder

Nov 29, 2012 8:25:00 AM

The Nerazzurri supremo has stressed that the Dutchman is free to act as he sees fit, and added that he is not playing for footballing reasons

Inter president Massimo Moratti has insisted that the Nerazzurri are not trying to force Wesley Sneijder into signing a new deal with the club.

The Giuseppe Meazza side are keen to renegotiate terms with the Netherlands captain as they want him to sign a one-year extension to his current deal until 2015, but accept a pay-cut in the process. Sneijder has no intention to do just that, though, and sporting director Marco Branca revealed last week that the attacking midfielder will not play again until his contract situation has been resolved.

However, despite Branca's comments on the situation, Moratti remains adamant that the club are not attempting to pressure Sneijder into inking a contract extension.

"As far as the club is concerned, we are completely open to the player, there is no sort of blackmail," Moratti told reporters.

"If a contract is valid, it's certainly valid to ask a person if it can be improved in some way. That doesn't change the fact that for the time being he's not playing for technical reasons.

"Obviously no one would want to throw away someone of his value. The club is calm, we haven't forced anyone to do anything. His contract is valid, no one is forcing him, Sneijder is free."

Sneijder last featured for Inter in the 2-0 away win over Chievo in September.

Moratti also briefly spoke about the possibility that Mario Balotelli will leave Manchester City to re-join his former club, and stressed that such a transfer is unlikely.

"I really don't think Balotelli will come back to Inter."

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