Atlético let Maniche join Inter

FC Internazionale Milano have signed Portugal midfielder Maniche on loan from Club Atlético de Madrid with a view to a permanent move at the end of the season.

Injury victims
The 30-year-old, nicknamed in honour of SL Benfica's former Danish forward Michael Manniche, has made the Italian champions his fourth foreign club since leaving FC Porto for FC Dinamo Moskva in 2005. He will provide cover for an injury-ravaged Inter midfield. Patrick Vieira and Luís Figo are both sidelined while Olivier Dacourt has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign. Inter meet Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round, with the tie kicking off on 19 February at Anfield.

Foreign expeditions
The former Benfica man, who won the 2003 UEFA Cup, the 2004 UEFA Champions League and two Portuguese titles under José Mourinho at Porto, has scored seven goals in 46 internationals. After netting twice in 12 league outings for Dinamo Moskva, Maniche was reunited with Mourinho at Chelsea FC in 2006 but failed to earn a full-time transfer despite making eight league appearances. He subsequently scored six goals in 43 Primera División matches after switching to Atlético in summer 2006.