The Football Association's new general secretary, Alex Horne, will meet Fabio Capello in South Africa next week to discuss his England contract in the wake of the European Cup holders, Internazionale, confirming their interest in the England manager.
Capello, who spent two spells as the manager of Milan, has been placed at the top of Inter's list to replace the outgoing José Mourinho, and the Inter president, Massimo Moratti, has indicated he will make his move immediately after England's World Cup campaign is over.
While aware of the interest from the Milan club, Capello says he is solely concentrating on England and the World Cup. “I have read a lot and some friends of mine rang me and said 'Fabio, you are coming back',” he said. “I signed a contract with Brian Barwick. Afterwards I spoke with Lord Triesman about changing something. Now I am waiting to speak with the new chairman. But the question is finished. It is nothing.
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“I am really focused on the World Cup. I want to reach the final. That is my target. The other things are absolutely out of my mind.”
The FA are intent on keeping their man, and Capello was about to eliminate a get-out clause from his contract that would allow him to leave his post before Euro 2012. That move was halted by the abrupt departure of Lord Triesman who resigned for making ill-advised comments in private that were printed in the Mail on Sunday. Horne and the professional game representative Sir David Richards will meet Capello at some point before the World Cup to confirm they want the Italian to remain where he is.
“We are very happy with Fabio,” said the FA communications director, Adrian Bevington. “Fabio has always expressed his happiness with us and for us it is business as normal. There have been various changes at the FA in recent weeks and I am sure once we are in South Africa the new general secretary, Alex Horne, and Sir Dave Richards, who carries a senior role for the professional game around the national team, plus myself, will sit down with Fabio and make sure he is up to speed with the various changes because there have been a lot in recent weeks.”
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