Inter Milan Chairman Massimo Moratti deflated speculation Tuesday that he is about to make a bid for troubled Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini sparked the rumours on Monday when he said he would welcome the arrival of the 24-year-old Italian talent, who has fallen out of favour with Real boss Fabio Capello.
But Moratti wrote that statement off as an expression of "esteem and respect" for Cassano and said the club has no plans to buy him.
Moratti also denied that he intends to lure Azzurri goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon away from Juventus.
Buffon has been linked to a number of clubs, including Inter, after he recently threatened to leave Juventus if the team is not up to contending for the title on its expected return to Serie A next season.
"We have an excellent goalkeeper, whose name is Julio Cesar, and another with a great deal of experience called Francesco Toldo," he said.
"We have no intention of signing another goalkeeper".
Inter are currently seven points clear at the top of Serie A and Moratti's policy seems to be - if it isn't broken, don't fix it.
He also denied the club's reported interest in Barcelona's Argentina striker Lionel Messi, who is said to be growing tired of living in the shadow of Ronaldinho at the Camp Nou.
"There aren't any parts of the squad that need strengthening," he explained ahead of Tuesday evening's Coppa Italia clash against Empoli.
"The team is well balanced and it would be a mistake to disturb this balance with new players".
Italian sports pundits, however, will not take Moratti's comments totally at face value.
Although it is no doubt true that Inter are not planning bids for Cassano, Buffon or Messi in the January transfer window, the situation may well have changed at the end of the season, they say.
On Tuesday AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti told reporters he is close to extending his contract with the club, who are currently lying second in the league.
"It's as if I'd signed the deal," said the boss of Inter's only real rivals for the title this season.
"I've talked to the club and it's just a matter of details".
Spalletti is expected to extend his contract - due to expire at the end of the season - until 2011.
