Inter Milan have signed Argentina defender Walter Samuel from Real Madrid, the Italian club said on Monday.

Inter said in a statement on their official website the central defender had signed a four-year deal with the Serie A club.

Samuel, 27, has previously played in Italy for AS Roma where he won the Italian league in 2001.

Samuel leaves Real after completing just one season of a five-year deal signed when he joined the club for a fee of 25 million euros ($30.25 million) from Roma last July.

At Inter, Samuel will be expected to partner tough Colombian Ivan Cordoba in the centre of defence and joins a large Argentine contingent working under coach Roberto Mancini.

As well as Solari, Inter captain and defender Javier Zanetti, midfielders Juan Sebastian Veron, Esteban Cambiasso and Kily Gonzalez and striker Julio Ricardo Cruz have all played for the Argentine national side.

Inter are aiming to join rivals AC Milan and Juventus in the title race this season after finishing third last term.

Inter have not won the Italian league since 1989.

Editor: Donald