Palacio: I'll cut off a piece of my ponytail if Inter win the Scudetto

Jul 9, 2012 8:50:00 AM

The former Genoa forward, who is very protective of his braid, has explained that he has taken little time to settle in at San Siro and is already dreaming of the Serie A title

Rodrigo Palacio has revealed that he will cut off a piece of his precious ponytail if Inter win this season's Scudetto.

The 30-year-old Argentine has only just arrived at Appiano Gentile from Genoa but explained that he already feels right at home and would therefore be willing to make a small sacrifice for the Nerazzurri cause.

"I'm really good here, I have settled in right from the start," Palacio, who has penned a three-year deal with Inter, told reporters on Sunday.

"Nobody can touch my 'Trenza' [braid], but if we win the league I can cut off a little piece!"

Meanwhile, fellow new signing Samir Handanovic, who has joined from Udinese, believes that Palacio could very well end up having to fulfill his promise.

"We definitely have a great team and we have the right champions in order to win," the Slovenia international argued.

"But I have already said enough for the first day. I just want to salute the fans and say 'Forza Inter!' In Udine, we never had so many people at a presentation - it's the first time for me."

Inter finished sixth last season but their form did pick up following the arrival of Andrea Stramaccioni as coach in March.

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But what do the fans think? Well, yesterday Goal’s roving reporter Kris Voakes went along to the Uefa Champions Festival, which is being staged at the Olympic Park in Stretford, and he spoke with supporters from both sides.

Johannes, Munich, told Goal: "We haven't lost to Dortmund this season, and though we lost two finals [in 2010 and 2012], we are hoping the third time is a charm.

"Last year the English stole our trophy," interrupted his friend Benjamin, "but we are going to take in back to Munich where it belongs."

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However, Dortmund simply cannot be discounted. They relish the role of underdogs and are not in the least bit afraid of their illustrious rivals, having now gone six Bundesliga games without defeat against die Roten. The last time these two met in a final, in last season’s DFB Pokal, Dortmund ran out 5-2 winners. As coach Jurgen Klopp pointed out this week: “We’re not the best team in the world, but we can beat the best team in the world."

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Bayern, of course, start as overwhelming favourites to prevail this evening, and understandably so. Not only did they mercilessly batter Barcelona into a shockingly tame capitulation at Camp Nou, they are also coming off the back of a record-breaking Bundesliga campaign which they finished a staggering 25 points clear of runners-up Dortmund, whom they are unbeaten against in four meetings this season.

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