Inter players make money offer

Three high-profile Internazionale FC players have offered to take pay cuts after reports that the Serie A club and UEFA Champions League contenders are in financial trouble.

Ronaldo, Vieri and Recoba
FIFA World Cup leading scorer Ronaldo, Italian international Christian Vieri and Uruguayan Alvaro Recoba have told Inter president Massimo Moratti of their willingness to see their wages reduced. Newspaper reports have suggested that several Serie A sides may ask for the beginning of the season to put back so that they can meet league rules on financial viability. "I do not think it is possible to sort out everything for 1 September," said AS Roma president, Franco Sensi. "The championship could be postponed by one month." 

'A direct gesture'
Vieri, speaking on behalf of the three stars, told Internazionale's official website:  "It does not matter how much, we will not bring accountants into it. What is important is to take the initiative. We spoke to each other and decided to do something. A direct gesture, above all to make our president understand that we care about Internazionale, and we know what it means to do everything possible so that the club can become stronger and bigger each year. The president has supported us at every moment and we wanted to make a concrete gesture - a gesture as Internazionale players.''

'We need to be honest'
Recoba, who spoke to Moratti not long after Vieri, added: "If a club cannot pay the players, then we need to be honest and accept a pay cut, for the good of everyone.'' Internazionale finished third in Serie A last season, earning them a place in the third qualifying round of the 2002/03 Champions League.