Cologne manager Klaus-Horstmann revealed that it was Inter Milan who proactively proposed the cooperation agreement. "They came to us. Apparently, Inter Milan hopes to expand their cooperation scope overseas. This is a win-win choice for both clubs." Cologne is a veteran powerhouse in the Bundesliga. They have won the Bundesliga championship three times in their history, and their youth training system enjoys a prestigious reputation, having nurtured many famous stars like Podolski.
However, the Italian Football Association's Disciplinary Committee believed that Inter Milan's actions were appropriate because Pandev had already terminated his contract with Lazio at the time, so he did not need authorization to negotiate with any club. "The charges against Paravacino, Gelfi, and Branca lack factual basis. There were no irregularities in the transfer operation involving Inter Milan and relevant personnel," the statement from the Italian Football Association's Disciplinary Committee read.
With this, the Pandev transfer dispute has come to an end, and Inter Milan received another piece of good news. The Internazionale News Network quoted German media reports stating that the Nerazzurri have reached an agreement with the veteran Bundesliga powerhouse Cologne, forming a strategic cooperative partnership. This was also officially confirmed by Cologne. According to German media, next week, senior officials from Cologne will come to Milan to finalize future cooperation plans with Inter Milan. These plans will include the loan of some young players, the expansion of scouting networks, and sharing resources, among others.
The case of Lazio accusing Inter Milan of using illegal means to bring in their player Pandev has finally been resolved. The Italian Football Association's Disciplinary Committee determined that all actions and procedures taken by the Nerazzurri were legal, rejecting the appeal from Lazio chairman Lotito. This cleared the names of Branca, Gelfi, and Pandev's agent Paravacino.
Last season, while still at Lazio, Pandev was banned by the club for half a season due to transfer issues. After arbitration, the Macedonian forward obtained his freedom, and was subsequently signed by his former club Inter Milan. However, Lotito was dissatisfied with this transaction, and last year, he submitted relevant documents to the Italian Football Association in an attempt to prove that Inter Milan's signing of the player was irregular. Lazio's chairman believed that Pandev's agent violated regulations in this deal, acting without authorization. Furthermore, Inter Milan's manager Branca and Gelfi secretly reached agreements with Pandev, which was also considered non-compliant.