Released Lazio striker Goran Pandev is ready to sign with Inter Milan.

"I want Inter. I want Inter with all my strength," he gleefully confessed to the Gazzetta dello Sport.

"There are many reasons why, above all that they tried to sign me up to three days before the end of the August transfer window.

"[Director Marco] Branca had offered a lot of money, despite the fact I had only 10 months left to run on my contract. Plus I'll never forget something Jose Mourinho said in the winter, that someone like me should never be sold."

It would in fact be a return to San Siro for Pandev, who started his Serie A career with the Nerazzurri.

"Inter represented the beginning for me, as it all started thanks to this club and who knows where I'd be now without them?

"It was 2001, I was 18 years old and leaving home for the first time. Stepping into the training ground I felt like I could touch the sky. It was such a dream to play the Thursday friendly tests with Ronaldo, Christian Vieri and Javier Zanetti."

There is still a great deal of competition for places, as Pandev will jostle alongside Diego Milito, Samuel Eto'o and Mario Balotelli.

"I will cause Mourinho problems! I think that I can take on a number of forward positions and with so many games there will be room for everyone.

"I know that I'm entering a strong squad, so the challenge is to be decisive and score a goal, even with only half-an-hour on the field."