Mourinho talking up an Inter wonderland

José Mourinho said "I like to achieve extraordinary results, not normal ones", maintaining that FC Internazionale Milano could be even stronger after trading Zlatan Ibrahimović for Samuel Eto'o.

European goal
Ibrahimović ended his three-year stay with the Nerazzurri yesterday when he joined Barça in a deal which involved Eto'o and a reported €46m going the other way as well as Belarus midfielder Aleksandr Hleb on a season-long loan. After leading Chelsea FC to their first league title in 50 years in his debut season with the Blues in 2004/05, Mourinho now wants to end Inter's 45-year wait for European glory in Madrid in 2010 and believes Eto'o, a scorer in Barça's final victories in 2006 and 2009, is the perfect man to help realise that ambition.

Fair exchange
While disappointed to lose last season's leading marksman in Serie A, Mourinho is delighted to be acquiring Eto'o, the scorer of 30 Spanish Liga goals in 2008/09. "Samuel is as good as Ibra," insisted Mourinho. "Only a stupid coach would say he is not sad to lose Ibra but you also have to be stupid if you say you don't like his replacement. I wanted Samuel even when I was at Chelsea but Barça said no.

'A great deal'
"Eto'o plus [€46m] for Ibra is a great deal for Inter," he added. "We lost a top player but we have gained another one. Ibrahimović is better with ball at his feet, Eto'o is better when he can run into space: they are completely different players. Samuel is not only a great goalscorer, he plays very well and can press the opponents when they have the ball. I think it will be a different Inter this season, more balanced than last year."

Lucio role
Inter have also signed Thiago Motta and Diego Milito from Genoa CFC and Lucio from FC Bayern München this summer. "With Lucio we can play with a defensive line much closer to the midfield," added Mourinho. "I did not think Bayern would release a player like Lucio. When the club called to say he was available, I just replied: 'Fantastic!'"

Mutual admiration
As for Ibrahimović, Mourinho felt that the Swedish international had missed out on the chance of creating a major European upset with Inter by making a relatively safe move to Camp Nou. "I talked to Ibra and told him that if he wins the Champions League with Barcelona, he will not achieve anything extraordinary because they have won the trophy twice in the last three years without him," said the Portuguese. "I like to achieve extraordinary results, not normal ones. However, he had a dream of playing for Barcelona and I'm happy for him. He told me he will miss me and I replied it will be the same for me. I worked for Barcelona for four years – they are a great club and they will make Zlatan happy."