MILAN: Former AC Milan manager Leonardo was named coach of city rival Inter Milan Friday. The European and Italian champion announced Leonardo's appointment on its website, a day after Rafa Benitez's contract was terminated by mutual agreement. Leonardo's contract starts Dec. 29 and runs until June 2012. His first match in charge will come against second-place Napoli when Serie A resumes Jan. 6. Benitez led Inter to the Club World Cup title last weekend, but the team is languishing in seventh place in Serie A, 13 points behind leader Milan. Benitez lasted only six months after taking over from Jose Mourinho, who left for Real Madrid following last season's historic treble. Leonardo's only head coaching experience came last season when he led Milan, but the term ended abruptly when the 41-year-old Brazilian clashed with club owner and Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi. In its statement, Inter said it was “convinced that he'll be able to put his class, experience as a champion and mentality to the service of the club to get the results that Inter and its fans want.” Leonardo becomes the fifth coach to make the move from Milan to Inter, following Giuseppe Bigogno, Giovanni Trapattoni, Ilario Castagner and Alberto Zaccheroni. He played for Milan for four years between 1997 and 2001 before returning to Brazil and working in a scouting role, in which he helped Milan secure the signings of Kaka and Alexandre Pato. In 2008, he was appointed as Milan's technical director, then received his first coaching position in the wake of Carlo Ancelotti's departure to Chelsea. After a difficult start last season, including a 4-0 rout by Inter, Leonardo began to build success with Milan by relying on an attack-oriented 4-2-1-3 formation that allowed players like Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Ronaldinho to line up together. The attacking style reached its high point with a 3-2 win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium but the Rossoneri were eventually eliminated from Europe by Manchester United and Berlusconi grew increasingly agitated as he watched Inter storm to the Serie A, Italian Cup and Champions League titles - becoming the first Italian club to achieve the treble. Now, Leonardo will be charged with restoring Inter to last season's form. Barca signs Afellay Netherlands midfielder Ibrahim Afellay completed his transfer to Barcelona from PSV Eindhoven when he signed a 4-1/2 year contract Friday. Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta told a news conference the 24-year-old would be the only player brought in during the January transfer window and the Spanish champion's squad was now complete. PSV received $3.9 million for Afellay and the attacking midfielder's new contract includes a buyout clause worth 100 million euros, Barcelona said on its website. The Dutch club would also get an unidentified percentage of any future transfer fee if Afellay was sold on, the statement added. Afellay, who is the latest in a long line of Dutch players at the Catalan club, will wear the number 20 shirt. He will be eligible to make his first appearance for Barca in the La Liga match at home to Levante on Jan. 2. “He is a player who has the characteristics of FC Barcelona,” Zubizarreta said. “He can play in every position in the center of the pitch, is in superb physical condition and of an age that mixes youth with experience.” Park's future uncertain South Korea midfielder Park Ji-sung is considering retiring from international football after the Asian Cup next month. The 29-year-old Manchester United player has been balancing commitments to clubs in Europe and South Korea for almost eight years. Before joining United in 2005, Park spent two seasons at PSV Eindhoven. Asked about retiring, Park said: “For now I can't say anything. Maybe after the Asia Cup I will.” Park will join South Korea as it tries to win the Asia Cup for the first time since 1960 after United plays Sunderland Sunday.
