Inter Milan remain hopeful of signing Palermo defender Matias Silvestre.

Branca distanced himself from President Maurizio Zamparini's assertion that the deal was "99 per cent complete".

"I appreciate the optimism of Zamparini, but the Silvestre operation is not '99 per cent complete'. First, we must settle with other players who would like to leave the squad because they would not find space with us next season."