Italy coach Marcello Lippi insists he didn't deliberately snub Inter Milan during a training ground visit last month.

Lippi was criticised in the media last month for visiting several different training grounds, but leaving out Inter from his itinerary.

"It was not a 'political' choice at all. I went to see how the injured Italians were doing at Juventus and Milan, but Inter's lads weren't on the treatment table and so there was no need.

"Inter have two fine young lads who play for the Under-21 side and I like them a lot."

Those figures are Davide Santon, who has already played for the senior Azzurri, and Mario Balotelli.