Any hopes Inter Milan had of signing Frank Lampard in the future all but vanished on Wednesday when the England midfielder extended his contract with Chelsea for an additional five years.
''I want to end my career at Chelsea. I want to do great things over the next five years and do them with Chelsea,'' the 30-year-old talent said in a message to fans on the Premier League side's website.
Lampard had been one of Inter's prime transfer targets after it brought in ex-Chelsea manager Jose' Mourinho to coach the Milan Serie A champions.
The Portuguese coach has long been an admirer of the England midfielder and was ready to wait a year to allow Lampard to fulfill his contract with the Blues.
When it became clear that Lampard would stay in London, the 'Special One' said he was not disappointed.
''If he has decided to stay at Chelsea because he'll be happier there that's OK with me,'' the coach said.
Inter later acquired Sulley Muntari from Portsmouth in place of Lampard.