9 October 2007, by Sean Gillen

Figo happy at decision to extend career

Portuguese legend still going strong for Italian champions

Luis Figo says he is glad that he decided to prolong his career in Europe with Italian champions Inter, after playing another ninety minutes at the weekend.

The veteran winger looked set to leave the Nerazurri over the summer for a lucrative contract in the Middle East or the USA, but the fans at the San Siro and president Massimo Moratti convinced Figo to stay for one more season.

“I’m very happy to have stayed on at Inter and I’m pleased I’m playing regularly,” Figo said after his side’s 2-1 win over Napoli on Sunday. “I’m always happy to play, and it’s even better when the team wins.”

Five wins and two draws from their opening seven games has seen last season’s Scudetto winners reclaim top spot early in the season, and Figo believes that the belief among the players is the key to the team’s form.

“It was an important victory (against Napoli) that sees us consolidate first place in the table,” he said. “Having so many good strikers is a certainty for me. They are all capable of scoring at any time during a match.”

“The team’s secret is the confidence in its work and the great quality of the squad. A better Inter than last year? Perhaps we have more experience, and with such a complete squad as ours we could make two teams out of it.”