10 October 2007, by Lorna Danion

Juventus and Inter in battle for Manuel da Costa’s signature

Italian heavyweights target Portuguese defender

Juventus hope to fend off competition from Serie A rivals Inter for PSV’s Portuguese defender Manuel da Costa, according to reports in Italy.

Milan-based sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed on Tuesday that the Bianconeri are keen to add to their defensive options, while the recent injury of Jorge Andrade will only have increased their need for a new stopper.

The paper also states that current Italian champions Inter are following the player’s development, with the possible intention of uniting him with compatriots Luis Figo and Vitor Pele at the San Siro.

Versatile defender da Costa, who was born in France to a Portuguese father and a Moroccan mother, moved to the Phillips Stadium in the summer of 2006 after a highly successful spell with Nancy, which included winning the French League Cup in 2006.

The 21-year-old’s current contract runs until 2010, but the deal includes a clause that states he can leave Holland at the end of the current season, providing a foreign club matches his 10m Euro valuation.

Portuguese champions Porto are believed to have had an 8m Euro bid rejected over the summer, with Italian football now appearing a strong possibility as the talented defender’s next destination.