Keane to start for Inter tonight - December 14, 2000
Robbie Keane will be in Inter's starting line-up tonight in the Coppa Italia quarter-final - and while the team will be playing for pride alone, it's another chance for the young Irishman to impress coach Marco Tardelli.
Keane has missed three games - including the first leg of tonight's match - with injury since Tardelli took over from Marcello Lippi and, anyway, Tardelli has tended to prefer Uruguayan striker Recoba.
But with Inter trailing Parma 6-1 from the first leg of tonight's game, the Inter coach is taking the opportunity to look at other options. He is set to partner Keane with Italian u21 international Andrea Pirlo in a new-look attack.
Meanwhile, the latest edition of the new daily newspaper "Robbie Keane Transfer Rumour Express" is published today under the banner of England's Daily Mail.
They claim Inter are now prepared to listen to offers of £12m-plus for the Dubliner - even though Inter continue to insist that Keane is not going anywhere.
Since Robbie returned from Ireland's friendly against Finland last month with an ankle injury, English newspapers have linked him with Arsenal, Chelsea, Leeds (!!), Coventry (!!!), Charlton (!!!) and whatever you're having yourself.
Leeds and Arsenal, remember, declined to buy Keane for £5 million at the start of last season and are now reported to be willing to spend £13 million! And we thought the silly season was in the summer!