Moscow leads race for 2006 final

Koloskov said Johansson had promised him and Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov in a private meeting this week that the Russian capital could stage the final of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time.

"Of course, the ultimate decision on where to play the Champions League final lies with the UEFA executive committee," Koloskov said. "But I will insist on Moscow’s right to be the frontrunner to host the final in 2006."

Moscow, Europe’s largest city, hosted the 1999 UEFA Cup final at the 84,000-seat Luzhniki Olympic Stadium. However, Koloskov, who also serves on UEFA’s executive board, hinted that Luzhniki arena was a long-shot since its natural grass surface was replaced by artificial turf two years ago.

Elsewhere yesterday, Inter Milan cruised into the last four of the Italian Cup with a 3-1 quarter-final second leg victory over Udinese.

Inter were unrecognisable from the sterile side that stuttered to a scoreless draw in the first leg in Udine last week.

Dutch winger Andy van der Meyde put the home side ahead in the 17th minute, bending a free kick round Udinese keeper Olivier Renard from a wide position.

Udinese striker Dino Fava restored the balance just after the half-hour, when he headed Alberto’s cross into the net. But six minutes after the restart Inter striker Obafemi Martins ran on to a long pass to fire low into the net. Eleven minutes later Julio Cruz sealed the result from the penalty spot after he had been brought down in the area. Inter will face either Juventus or Perugia in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Brazilian striker Adriano has become the second big-name player to leave crisis-hit Parma when the Serie A club announced he has returned to Inter.

The 21-year-old Adriano, who was co-owned by Inter, has been signed on a four-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee. Young strikers Isah Eliakwu and Ianis Zicu will also join him on loan as part of the deal. Adriano’s departure follows that of Japanese midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, who was loaned to Bologna earlier this month.

Adriano’s arrival, two days after Inter owner Massimo Moratti said he was standing down as president, shows that while Moratti might publicly take an increasingly back seat role in the day-to-day running of his club, he has no intention of ending the succession of big-name buys that marked his presidency.

He will reinforce an impressive list of strikers, which includes Italy international Christian Vieri, Argentine Julio Cruz and Nigerian Obafemi Martins and his immediate task will be to make up ground on league leaders Roma. Inter are fourth on 31 points, 11 behind Roma.