Serie A champions Inter Milan have said in a statement that former Portugal international midfielder Luis Figo is definitely not joining Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad.

There were reports last week that Al Ittihad had secured the services of the 34-year-old midfield maestro for one-year.

The ex-Galactico had signed a contract worth 4.5 million euros (5.9 million dollars) and would be arriving on January 5, Al Ittihad had claimed.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini has already dismissed talk of Figo's departure, and the club has reiterated their desire to hold onto the former World and European Footballer of the Year.

"There are no negotiations for the transfer of Luis Figo to another club," read the statement on the Inter website on Thursday.

"The recent news of a possible transfer of the Portuguese midfielder is, therefore, completely groundless."

However Figo, whose contract with Inter runs out at the end of the current season, has played little under Mancini this season. And that could just lead him to look towards the Gulf country club which can provide a lucrative deal before retiring.

He had said while retiring from international football after Portugal lost to France in the World Cup semi-finals in July, that he would continue to play at club level for a season or two.

Serie A leaders Inter are currently in Bahrain and will face the Bahrain national team in a friendly match on Saturday before flying back to Italy for the resumption of top-flight season which had a winter-break. Serie action starts in the second week of January.

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