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Ties that bind Milan rivals

A number of key players have played for both Internazionale FC and AC Milan.

By Andrew Haslam

One of the most intriguing aspects of the UEFA Champions League semi-final meeting between Internazionale FC and AC Milan is the number of players who have featured for both sides.

Close links
The situation is certainly unusual in football, but historically the links between the two Milan clubs have been closer than most other local rivals across Europe. Indeed, the ground the two sides share, the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, is named after the top scorer in local derbies; Meazza scored 19 times for Inter and once for Milan.

Summer swap
Perhaps the most unexpected transfer of last summer saw Clarence Seedorf leave Inter for their city rivals, with Italian international Francesco Coco heading in the other direction. While Seedorf enjoyed three successful season with Inter, Coco had struggled to establish himself at Milan and spent most of the 2001/02 season on loan at FC Barcelona.

Injury problems
Both players have adapted well to their not-so-unfamiliar surroundings, but each has seen his season disrupted by injury. However, Coco has played well when fit, while Seedorf returned to action much sooner than anticipated after suffering a knee injury against AFC Ajax and is aiming for a third successive European crown with different clubs.

Šimic success
Perhaps the player who has benefited most from a cross-town trip is Croatian defender Dario Šimic, who spent four seasons with Inter before joining Milan last year. Having impressed in 1998/99, his debut season in Serie A, Šimic subsequently struggled to win a regular starting role at Inter, but upon joining Milan, coach Carlo Ancelotti converted him from a central defender to a right-back, and he has thrived.

Pirlo in form
Another player who has gained from switching allegiances is Andrea Pirlo, who had also found his first-team chances limited at Inter. Since joining Milan in 2001, however, he has been successfully transformed into a deep-lying playmaker, making his debut for Italy in November 2002. However, he is doubtful for the Inter game, having only returned from a month-long injury lay-off as a substitute on Saturday. Pirlo's first-leg replacement was Cristian Brocchi, who despite some creditable displays has again struggled to establish himself in the Milan squad having previously suffered the same problem at Inter.

Limited chances
Inter's midfield also features two players who have previously worn the red and black of Milan, with Domenico Morfeo spending six games on loan at the Rossoneri in 1998/99 before joining Inter in summer 2002. like Morfeo, Guly - a crucial figure in Milan's 1998/99 Scudetto win - has struggled to win a starting place since switching to the Nerazzurri in 2001. Facing stiff competition from the likes of Luigi Di Baigio and Cristiano Zanetti, the Argentinian midfield player has not been helped by injury problems, although he appeared as a substitute in last week's first leg.

Extra incentive
Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo began his career with Milan, but left without making a single first-team appearance. However, having gone on to establish himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Toldo's Milan links will give him an added incentive tonight in a match where familiarity does not make the rivalry any less intense.

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