World Cup hopeful Wesley Sneijder has slammed the door on Manchester United.
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti indicated the Premier League giants had lodged a £25million bid for the midfield schemer.
Sir Alex Ferguson has always been an admirer of the 26-year-old and with Paul Scholes about to start the final year of his career Sneijder would be an ideal replacement.
United might also have gained some encouragement from the uncertainty at Inter following Jose Mourinho's departure for Real Madrid.
But any chance of luring the former Ajax star, who played such an influential role in Inter's treble-winning campaign, to Old Trafford seems to have been ended by Sneijder's fairly unequivocal statement on the matter.
"I have a very good feeling at Inter and I don't want to let them down after winning everything and losing Mourinho," he said.
"My goal is to be as successful this year with the new coach.
"I am not surprised about the interest because I have been playing well but my intention is to stay at Inter.
"I want to talk to them later this month about extending my contract."
Before that, Sneijder is due to get married.
But his more immediate concern is helping Holland to lift the World Cup for the first time by beating Spain at Soccer City on Sunday.
After playing such a major part in Holland's shock win over Brazil in the quarter-finals, Sneijder was also on target in Tuesday's semi-final triumph over Uruguay in Cape Town.
That wins has put Holland in with a shot of avenging the defeats to West Germany in 1974 and Argentina four years later that have burned such a scar into Dutch hearts.
Having spawned Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten amongst a number of others since the era of Johan Cruyff, Rinus Michels and 'Total Football', talent has not been in question.
But all too often, Dutch morale has been sapped by internal disagreements.
This time, coach Bert van Marwijk has managed to keep everything in-house, quickly putting a lid on an argument between Sneijder and Robin van Persie, and ensuring the whole Dutch camp remained fully focused on the job they came to South Africa to do.
"Dutch football has always been very good," said Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt.
"In every tournament we have shown there is quality.
"In this tournament we have shown we have more than quality. We also have belief. We believe we can beat every opponent. We have the patience to do it."
Although the pair have not spoken, new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has got a message to Kuyt extending his best wishes for the weekend.
Like Sneijder, Kuyt is also happy to re-affirm his commitment to his club's cause, even though life at Anfield has been less than happy recently.
"Of course I want to stay," said the 26-year-old.
"Liverpool is a great club with a great history.
"Unfortunately in my four years I haven't won anything but hopefully in the future, I will still have that chance.
"We will have to see what happens but hopefully the manager wants me to stay.
"I spoke to people at the club and I know he wants to speak with me. But it is very difficult at the moment because we are so busy and focus on what lies ahead."
However, Kuyt cannot hide his relief at being able to put a tortuous season behind him and get to the brink of such a staggering achievement.
"It is really satisfying to end the season like this," he said.
"It has been a long and hard season at Liverpool. Mentally it has been tough.
"You play for a club like that to win trophies and it did not happen.
"Thankfully, the Dutch manager gave me a week off after I had finished with Liverpool so I could focus on this tournament.
"That was good for me. Afterwards I trained hard. I fought for my place in the team. I am enjoying myself now and here we are in the final."
source:espn
