Robbie Keane has the bare-faced cheek to ask for the No.9 shirt at Inter Milan. The superstar of Irish football will have to be satisfied with the No.7 shirt as Ronaldo is the proud owner of the No.9.

Keane said: "I asked for number nine, but I think some other fellow has that."

Robbie was introduced to the San Siro faithful yesterday and after stepping onto the hollowed turf he just cant wait to get a kick of a football on it.

Keane should figure in Inter's pre-season programme which starts this week. Inter travel to Bari to take part in a three-team exibition. They will play Bari and Roma in 45-minute games and the Tallaght man hopes that he will get a chance to show why the club paid so much money for him.

If he can get a run-out and impress enough he could be in line for a place in Inter's Champions League qualification game on August 8.

"Playing in the group stage of the Champions League would be fantastic. The competition has ghrown in improtance, and I'm aware already how much it means to Inter to do well in it this year," concluded Keane.