Rome - There could be bad news in the offing for Italian champions Inter Milan in a frantic summer transfer market that threatens to leave them without some of their most valuable players. The departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 27, has been a source of nightmares for the blue-black fans since the season's end in late May.
After clinching the top scorer crown with 25 goals, the Swedish star began to voice uncertainty about remaining in Milan, and Inter last week began negotiations with European champions Barcelona.
The Spanish giants could face competition in the affair from big guns Real Madrid and Chelsea and get into an auction to snatch Ibra, which could bring up to 80 million euros (112 million dollars) into Inter's coffers.
The massive transfer fee has become a possibility in the light of what Real just paid AC Milan for Brazil star Kaka, at least 65 million euros that regenerated the balance of the Devils.
Meanwhile, more unsettling news for Inter's stadium-goers came Wednesday from Douglas Maicon.
The 27-year-old Brazil international, who is considered one of the best right-backs in the world, was expected to sit down and discuss his contract after some convincing seasons, but seems to have been snubbed by the club.
"I talked with Kaka and I saw him happy. He went from one big club to another big club," Maicon told La Gazzetta dello Sport from the camp where Brazil gear up for the Confederations Cup starting at the weekend.
"I'm sad. I'm leaving. Inter only think about pleasing Ibrahimovic and treat me with indifference, as a normal player. Beside, in seven days in Brazil they fixed my physical troubles."
As everyone talks about Ibra, the arrivals at Inter of Argentine striker Diego Milito, who scored 24 goals for Genoa, and his Brazil team mate Thiago Motta almost went unnoticed.
The departure of Ibra could be good news for Inter rivals like Roma, Milan and Juventus, whose goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said that, after four straight titles for Inter, things could change dramatically next season.
