Inter complete signing of Vampeta

Internazionale have confirmed the signing of Brazilian midfielder Marcio Vampeta.

Inter's £12 million deal was confirmed last Monday night by Corinthians executive Carlos Nujud who said the transfer of the midfielder was complete and Vampeta had signed a four year contract to play for Inter.

The player arrived in Milan with his two agents to complete the deal with a medical at Appiano Gentile on Thursday.

Inter are not happy with Dutch star Clarence Seedorf and want to replace him with the Brazilian.

Vampeta is a regular in the Brazil national team and was a top target for coach Marcello Lippi since troublesome Dutch star Clarence Seedorf may be leaving the club soon.

Since his return to Brazil in 1998 from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven after a £3 million deal, Vampeta has become one of Corinthians' most important players with Dida and Edilson who have already left the club this summer.

Inter have been in talks for a month with the Brazilian club and the Sao Paolo club's director of sport, Carlos Nujud, confirmed the completion of the deal. Then on Wednesday night Inter were knocked out of the Champions League by Helsingborg leading to speculation that the transfer of the midfielder may be halted but it in fact proceeded without a hitch once the player and his agents arrived in Italy.

Vampeta helped to establish Corinthians as a powerful Paulista league force by protecting the defence from a central midfield position and won the first World Club championship in January with the club.

Vampeta is due back in Italy on September 5 after international duty with Brazil and could play in Inter's opening UEFA Cup match against Ruch Chorzow of Poland on September 14th.