Roma’s on-loan centre-back Nicolas Burdisso could barely contain his enthusiasm last night after helping the Lupi to a 2-1 win over Serie A pacesetters Inter.

The result lifted Claudio Ranieri’s side to within a point of the Argentine’s parent club with seven games left to play.

When asked if the victory had a special taste in light of his Nerazzurri past, the 28-year-old smiled to Sky Sport Italia: “It is special because we defeated a strong team like Inter. It’s a great satisfaction for me. We didn’t start well this season, but I always had faith. And I am relishing this moment…

“We are a point behind them now and must believe in it even more. Inter are strong and they are still the team to beat, but we are strong too and it showed tonight. We must believe in it.”

Meanwhile, Il Messaggero newspaper claims this morning that Burdisso, who is said to have left Inter acrimoniously last summer after being constantly overlooked by boss Jose Mourinho, had a heated exchange with the Portuguese during the interval yesterday. – goal