ROME - Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has confirmed that his club will buy either Frank Lampard or Deco in their summer spending spree, but not both.

ROME - Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has confirmed that his club will buy either Frank Lampard or Deco in their summer spending spree, but not both.

Lampard was one of new Inter coach Jose Mourinho's lieutenants at Chelsea, while Deco has long been linked with a transfer to Inter.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Moratti, who controls the San Siro club's purse strings, said they will only buy one midfielder this summer, effectively ruling them out of a move for Roma and Italy's Alberto Aquilani.

Moratti said: "Mourinho likes Lampard a lot, everybody considers him a great midfielder. Deco has the right characteristics, but we can't buy everybody. Aquilani I like, but we will buy only one midfielder [this summer]." He also said that Brazil striker Adriano is likely to return to the club after his six-month loan at Sao Paolo. Mourinho is in South America where he watched Adriano in Brazil's World Cup qualifying matches.

If he does return he will link up with 17-year-old phenomenon Mario Balotelli who recently signed an extension to his Inter contract, something which delighted Inter's president.

"I think Adriano will [come back]. It is clear that Mourinho is in Brazil to find out how he is and how he feels he will fit into the squad. Balotelli should be honoured to be at Inter. He has come through our youth ranks and now is adapting himself well [to life in the first team]."

Luis Figo is another player close to signing on for another year at San Siro. - Sapa-AFP