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Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini
In demand: both Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini have been the subject of transfer speculation

Arsene Wenger to report Inter Milan over Hleb bid

Andrew Fifield, Evening Standard
25 Apr 2008


Arsene Wenger today vowed to report Inter Milan to FIFA for tapping up Alexander Hleb.

And the Arsenal boss warned other clubs he will do the same to them if they make illegal approaches for any of his stars.

Wenger is furious that Inter head coach Roberto Mancini went public with his interest yesterday and wants football's world governing body to punish the Serie A leaders.

The Frenchman believes Mancini is deliberately trying to unsettle Hleb, 26, who can buy out the remaining two years of his five-year contract this summer under FIFA transfer rules.

He said: "If Inter are interested in Alexander Hleb, they should call us but we have heard nothing directly. I don't know why we always have to respond to these situations."

Inter also sparked Wenger's fury last month, when their agents met Hleb before Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final against AC Milan at the San Siro.

Wenger decided not to report Inter on that occasion but has now had enough, and gave a warning to other clubs thinking of following Inter's lead.

He said: "Apart from Mathieu Flamini, all our players are under contract. They can call us or we shall report them to FIFA. You never hear me talking about players who are under contract somewhere else.

"If I want to buy someone, I call the chairman and I ask him if he is for sale. I find all the rest of the talk about the other players completely disrespectful.

"When it comes directly from the club, enough is enough, we shall report them directly to FIFA from now on."

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