Forlan out of Inter Milan's Champions League squad

2010 UEFA Champions League champions Internationale Milan will have to do without their new Uruguayan signing Diego Forlan in the group stages of their UEFA Champions League campaign as Forlan has already played for his old club Atletico Madrid against Norway's Stromsgodset in the Europa League qualifiers this season and as per UEFA rules if a team progress into the group stages then the played is cup tied until end-December and can only play for his new club in the new year (not season) from January onwards.

This means Diego Forlan could only make his European debut for Inter Milan next year in the pre-quarterfinals if the Italian progress from their group which includes Russians CSKA Moscow, OSC Lille from France and Turkey's Trabzonspor.

Forlan joined Inter Milan on the last day of the transfer window and it seems the Nerazzurri did not know about his ineligibility to play in the Champions League. The striker was brought in as a replacement for Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o, who has moved to Russian side Anzhi Makachkala, with the club surely expecting him to be eligible for continental competitions.

And the European media has already drubbed the whole case as an unwanted transfer blip for the Italians. The Italian 'Gazzetta dello Sport' said that Inter president Massimo Moratti was not amused by such a huge mistake and Inter Milan has made a complete fool of themselves.

It will be interesting to see if the mistake will hamper Inter Milan's progress in the Champions League, then in the end their group isn't too strong compared to other groupings this season and maybe later in the season Forlan will get some goals for them.