Kenya Football .:. Story - Inter President Massimo Moratti: Mcdonald Mariga Was Our Best Option

Inter president Massimo Moratti has confirmed he is delighted with the club’s deadline day signing of McDonald Mariga but admitted the Beneamata missed out on a few players they had hoped to sign.

When asked whether the signing of Mariga came as a surprise, he told inter.it, "Yes, but he is an interesting player. He's a young player with excellent prospects and I think he's the best thing that could have happened to us."

In a revealing deadline day interview, the Inter boss also confirmed that there were no personal problems between outgoing Brazilian Mancini and the club.

"There have never been any rifts,” he said. “I must admit that a disagreement did not exist.”

Mancini has now joined city rivals AC Milan and Moratti revealed his club were close to agreeing an exchange deal that would have included Marek Jankulovski.

"Yes, there was an exchange but one of the factors involved has not gone well," he said. "We respect his decision and the fact that it could not be concluded."

When asked about the possibility of signing Lazio midfielder Cristian Ledesma, he responded, "I think that the time has now passed. So yes, the agreement was not reached.

(Pictured: Moratti, the Inter President with Jose Mourinho).

"I feel sorry for the boy, who I think is very good and certainly would have been useful, but it’s not the end of the world."

Finally, Moratti confirmed the club had made an attempt to sign Palermo midfielder Fabio Simplicio, but that the deal had fallen through.

"It is a pity. Some transfers and loans fail to materialise and unfortunately this one was not concluded.”

He has instead signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Serie A leaders Inter, filling the void created by Mancini's loan switch to city rivals AC Milan.

The 22-year-old joined Parma in the summer of 2008 and quickly saw his profile rocket within the Serie A ranks.

A potential move to England had been widely touted for some time, but it is Jose Mourinho who has secured the African ace's signature.

A statement from Inter read: "Mariga has signed a contract until 30th June 2014 and will wear the number 17 jersey."

As part of the deal, Inter have sold half their rights to forward Jonathan Biabiany to Parma, where the Frenchman was already on loan, and sent Chilean Luis Jimenez there too until the end of the season.

No.

TEAM

Pts

Ulinzi

Tusker

SofapakaFC

Gor

Mathare

Sher K. FC

Thika Utd

-3

AFC SC

-7

Sony FC

-2

W. Stima

-6

NBI City S

-6

Rangers FC

-9

KCB

-8

Red Berets

-5

MahakamaFC

-7

Chemelil

-10

Total

346

110

126

110

339

456