ROME, Feb 2 - Four-time defending Serie A champions Inter Milan signed highly-rated Kenyan international midfielder McDonald Mariga from rivals Parma on Monday on a four year contract.
Inter stepped in for the 22-year-old - capped 24 times - hours after a move to English Premier League heavyweights Manchester City had fallen through when he was refused a work permit.
A statement from Inter read: "Mariga has signed a contract until June 30 2014 and will wear the number 17 jersey."
As part of the transfer deal Inter let Chilean midfielder Luis Jimenez - who had just returned from a loan spell with another Premier League outfit West Ham - move to Parma.
Mariga who had successfully undergone a medical at City and agreed personal terms was denied a the necessary documentation due to Kenya\\\'s dismal FIFA world ranking.
The British Home Office only grants work permits to players whose countries are in the top 70 bracket. Kenya currently occupies 98th position.
Mariga\\\'s move to the San Siro could see the former Tusker and Ulinzi player bask in glory with Inter who are eight points clear at the top of Serie A and in the quarter final of the UEFA Champions League where they will take on Jose Mourinho\\\'s former side Chelsea.
Mariga\\\'s failure to join the richest club in the world elicited outrage back home with some Kenyans accusing the British government for discrimination while others pointed the finger at Kenya\\\'s football administrators whose incessant wrangles caused Harambee Stars dip in the rankings.
Thanks a lot to Jose. Leave those colonialists alone. Also Raila should apologise to Kenyans for taking us a step back by bringing in 'Hay'. Kenyans are not cows bwana. Mariga go on !!!!!
cyprian singi (February 03rd, 2010, 3:14 PM)
drim high MAC,Kenyans football managers r just guided by thirst 4 money n selfishness while killing talents of many n not just u
James Wiseman (February 03rd, 2010, 3:11 PM)
Congrats Macdonald, Shame on the F A Who almost failed to encourage such budding talent becoz of some rules. The buck however stops with the footbal authorities in kenya for the p[lummeting standards. Iam apportioning blame also to prime minister Raila had he not come up with that rascal Antoine Hey our ranking would have been higher.Lastly the onus is now on the oress in kenya I hope they follow up on the perfomance of Inter instead of Man U & Arsenal only.Kudos to the kenyan people
Cyrus muriuki (February 03rd, 2010, 12:04 PM)
congrats Mariga,worry not coz its my believe & prayer that u will defently land to where youve been aiming at.
Victor Nguku (February 03rd, 2010, 8:30 AM)
SHAME ON FA ..KENYANS SHLD QUIT WATCHING THE EPL N SHAME ON KFF OR IS IT KPL ...U ARE A DISGRACE
MARIGA KEEP PLAYING GOOD GAME
kagoroka (February 02nd, 2010, 5:00 PM)
nyasae akugasize.mbenavuyanzi vuutarinda mbaa....
mbwiria (February 02nd, 2010, 4:24 PM)
VIVA Son Mariga. With or without the UK you are a talented football star. You are doing us proud and we love you. SHAME ON KFF, FKL AND MINISTRY OF SPORTS!!
Wycliff Mumbo (February 02nd, 2010, 3:05 PM)
Mariga,don't worry about the aborted move.I strongly believe that your going 2 Internatinale will be a gateway 4 u 2 showcase Ur talent and finally u will realize ur dream by playing in the bigger team in England than Man city.kudos
Abekuvoya (February 02nd, 2010, 2:39 PM)
You are a cut above the rest.Please be a role model and allow yourself to develop others.KUDOS!
wycliff mumbo (February 02nd, 2010, 2:36 PM)
Mariga was not rejected by the UK.The all mess is with our football managers.The wrangles within the management should be brought to an halt and good strategies be devised in order to improve in our game thus climb 2 a better position in FIFA ranking.
Njoroge (February 02nd, 2010, 2:07 PM)
Chema chajiuza just like mariga.morinho and Inter milan know that....
MWITURIA (February 02nd, 2010, 1:46 PM)
The fact that Mourinho moved so fast to sign Mariga proves that the player is really good.Forget the Britons and their rigid rules. In the meantime Mariga, go for it man. Kenyans are really behind you. Wewe ni wetu mtu wangu. BUT A BIG SHAME TO the football administrators in Kenya. YOU guys are Kenya's worst sports enemy!!
john (February 02nd, 2010, 1:20 PM)
Hey guys the Premier
League is the best in the world you all know it. Why do so many Kenyans watch the Premier League evrey weekend. They(Premire League) have all the right to this arrogance.
Evans Sande (February 02nd, 2010, 12:45 PM)
Inter is a better deal, Mariga shld make sure he plays in the 1st eleven and show the English dust in Champions League.
Those wazugu of brito bring swine flu in Kenya and we don't deny them Work permit.Now Kajwang should include them in the same bracket with Somali's whenever we have an aliens crack down.
Samuel Njuguna (February 02nd, 2010, 12:03 PM)
Mac's eventual landing in Mourinho's couch-ship is not a bad thing at all..but let the message of shame reach FKL AND OTHERS that their never ending wrangles have cost cost us a little too much this time..SHAME ON YOU!
Sam (February 02nd, 2010, 11:54 AM)
come on Kenyans, you want rules to be bent in your favour? if Kenya is not in the top 70 rankings what do you expect? lets not bend rules to suit our whims. Thank God though he has still landed a signing with one of the best sides.
BETTY LELS (February 02nd, 2010, 11:52 AM)
Hey mariga, ata man city wakikukataa we love u and we believe in you hapa NYUMBANI kENYA..Jose wee ni wetu.
orenge alex (February 02nd, 2010, 11:33 AM)
we r proud of mariga. and mourinho made it big,. kijana give us soccer n we beliv we gt da soccer.
Gathiiki (February 02nd, 2010, 11:19 AM)
Congratulations to Mariga for securing that move. To me, Inter Milan is far much better than Manchester City. Inter are always in the Champions league, they are on top of serie A by 8 points, and what a marvelous coach in the name of Jose Mourinho (The special One)
daniel (February 02nd, 2010, 10:41 AM)
Mourinho is such a sharp guy, he knows good footballers when he sees one and waste no time enlisting them.
daniel (February 02nd, 2010, 10:35 AM)
This is great for Mariga!!!!! Just one thing there must be something fishy with Britain denying Mariga the permit, all parties involved with transfer are competent and avast with all rules there are, how comes the ranking thing cropped up at the last minute?
proudlykenyan (February 02nd, 2010, 10:35 AM)
let the damn Britons know that you never know the chance you've got until you lose it. Wame lose Mariga and its their problem. They will be drooling from afar sababu atawaonyesha dust at Intermilan
Michael Kinuthia (February 02nd, 2010, 10:30 AM)
Jose is a good man. Hao jamaa wengine waishie kabisa... NKT!!!
sammy (February 02nd, 2010, 10:25 AM)
thanks to jose 4 good work he has done blessed be his team
kimachia njoroge (February 02nd, 2010, 9:33 AM)
at least a lifeline to the poor lad. Inter should go ahead to win the Champions league and embarrass these wabeberus......
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