Germany's 'Poldi' set for Inter Milan move
January 3, 2015
World Cup winner Podolski was pictured on the website of Serie A side Inter Milan on Friday, holding aloft a blue-and-black-striped Inter Milan scarf.
The club's site featured multiple pictures of Podolski surrounded by fans at Milan's Linate Airport, under a banner reading "Podolski, a world champion, to Milan."
A tweet from the club read "Here he is, Lukas Podolski, soon after landing in Milan."
However, no further details of the deal were initially given via Twitter or the website.
The 29-year-old, who has won more than 100 caps with Germany, joined Arsenal from Cologne in 2012, but has found it tough earn a regular starting place with the London club. Podolski was understood to have become increasingly frustrated at his lack of Premier League playing time and there had even been talk that he might return to the Bundesliga sooner rather than later.
The Gazetta dello Sport and other Italian media had reported earlier on Friday that Inter had signed a deal that would see Podolski move to Milan until the end of the season. However, those reports were not confirmed by either club.
There were reports on Thursday morning that Podolski had stormed out of a training session in frustration at being left out of the starting line-up for Arsenal's New Year meeting with Southampton. The Londoners lost that match 2-0.
Podolski took to social media to deny a Daily Mirror report that there had been any training pitch spat. Known as something of a joker, the player couldn't resist a cheeky festive swipe at the paper's headline writers.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had earlier in the week described the terms of an initial offer from the Italians as "farcical." He said on Thursday that Inter had made a new offer for the former Bayern Munich player which was "more serious."
Polish-born Podolski has started only two matches this season and made 12 appearances in all, scoring three goals.
rc/bk (AFP, dpa, Reuters)