Sneijder out of Inter squad

Posted Monday, November 26, 2012 by PA

Inter Milan head coach Andrea Stramaccioni has left Wesley Sneijder out of his plans for the trip to Parma, after the midfielder's contract situation went public this week.

Little explanation had been offered for the Holland playmaker's continued absence from first-team action, despite the 28-year-old having recovered from injury weeks ago.

Sneijder recently revealed he had been forbidden from explaining his position to his fans on Twitter, prompting Inter director Marco Branca to finally break the club's silence.

The Dutchman makes an estimated six million euros per year and Branca declared that the player must agree to take a pay cut or face being sold in January.

Stramaccioni is eager to maintain harmony in the ranks, telling inter.it: "Obviously I speak to Wes on a daily basis. I know exactly what's going on.

"The club has set me some clear guidelines over player acquisitions and sales for my first full season in charge, which have to be respected.

"You have to understand the player's position and Wes is one of the most professional people I know. This is nothing personal.

"I have decided not to use the player, which is a technical choice, and I hope we can all sit at a table and resolve the situation as soon as possible.

"Having said that, I'm going to Parma with the best players available to me despite deciding not to use Sneijder on this occasion."

Inter have managed to maintain their grip on second place in Serie A despite a debilitating injury crisis over recent weeks.

But veterans Christian Chivu and Dejan Stankovic have returned to training, with defender Andrea Ranocchia and midfielder Fredy Guarin now close to full fitness.

Gaby Mudingayi and Joel Obi are still on the treatment table but fellow midfielder McDonald Mariga is starting to show positive signs of recovery.

Parma midfielder Marco Parolo serves a one-match ban as club president Tommaso Ghirardi hopes to see a lengthy unbeaten run extended at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

The Gialloblu last tasted defeat on home turf in March, courtesy of Inter's fierce rivals AC Milan, with Ghirardi telling fcparma.com: "I've been thinking about this game for a long time.

"We know we are facing a strong team. We have acquitted ourselves well in the home games and we have a long positive streak at home.

"I hope we show the same determination and the same will to win and capitalise on the qualities of each player to get a good result."