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WE'RE COMING.  NO YOU'RE NOT.

Zanetti: "We Argentinians wanted to be there in Beijing."

Phone call to Gasperini.  Response: "Rest.  It will be a tough season and you're be fundamental."

Milan - The love of an old guard, the consistency of new leadership and a fighting spirit.  All of this can describe Zanetti, Cambiasso and Milito who all begged Gasperini to take them to Beijing and the coach requires them with "forced" vacation.

The last dinner Thursday night, it was the night where captain spent his time with Cuchu and his friend Frederick Henrietta.  Just returned from Argentina, Zanetti wanted to reunite his teammates before the axis of Dublin-Paris-Beijing.  Later on in the evening, there was also Massimo Moratti and his wife Milly Moratti.  The way of Inter president being there is just like those times in Pinetina at the eve of important games.  In China, Inter will play for the first trophy of the season and it is against Milan.  The two important men of Inter were with the group but will not go to Beijing.  Or rather they should not go.  Moratti was in doubt because of some problems with the visa.  And for the Inter captain, as well as Cambiasso and Milito, all were ready to give up vacation to be there for Inter in Beijing.

Unnecessary phone calls The situation of Zanetti was paradoxical.  He said to us that on July 18, immediately after the elimination from the Copa America in Argentina, from Buenos Aires, he started to call Gasperini.  "Mister, we want to be there in Beijing," was the overall message of the phone call for all three Argentinians.  Because even Cambiasso and Milito, while returning from a season full of muscles problems, would have come back early from holidays to help teammates in the Super Cup.  But Gasperini has forced them to stay on the beach: "You must rest, we can expect a tough season and your contribution will be crucial.  Needless to run the risk of compromising the preparation for a major game but not decisive."

Last hope So insisting on going to Beijing was useless.  Whoever doubted whether or not Gasperson would have the attributes to handle a dressing room full of prima donnas was served.  And yesterday while his teammates started boarding to Dublin, Zanetti had to "resign" to the idea of going to Athens.  The Greek beaches await him and his wife Paula with children Sol and Ignacio.  Not only the Argentinians but Maicon is also training with Atletico Mineiro and like Lucio, he will be back early in Milan.

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport