Milan end feud with Inter over Cagliari striker Suazo

ROME, June 23 (Reuters) The tug-of-war between AC Milan and city rivals Inter Milan over the signing of Cagliari striker David Suazo ended today, when Milan announced they were withdrawing their claim on the player.

''Having learned that the player had already signed a contract with Inter, Milan have pulled out of negotiations,'' read a statement on Milan's website (www.acmilan.com).

The face-off between the Serie A giants began last week, when Cagliari president Massimo Cellino, frustrated at the slow pace of earlier negotiations with Inter, said he had decided to sell Suazo to Milan.

Milan announced the transfer had been completed. Inter hit back, however, saying the player had already signed for them.

The 27-year-old Honduras international scored 14 league goals last season having developed into one of the most dangerous strikers in Italy.

In the 2005-06 season he scored 22 Serie A goals for Cagliari, breaking the club record of 21 league goals in a season that former Italy international Gigi Riva set in 1970.

At the Italian Football Oscars in January this year, Suazo shared the award for best foreign player in Serie A with Milan's Brazilian playmaker Kaka.

The tussle is sure to fuel a simmering feud between the two Milan clubs, whose rivalry was intensified by Inter's league title and AC Milan's Champions League triumph last season.

An anti-Inter banner unfurled on AC Milan's open-top bus during their Champions League celebrations also added spice.

Reuters SAM GC1800