Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio has insisted that they have not yet completed the signing of Yann M'Vila despite pictures emerging of him with the club shirt.
It is thought that M'Vila has already signed a one-year loan contract with the Serie A side, but the final details of the transfer have yet to be signed off by his parent club. That seems to be a formality despite Ausilio's caution.
M'Vila, 24, will move to Serie A after 18 months in Russia with Rubin Kazan.
"Over these last three or four days we have seen how much Inter want him [M'Vila]," Ausilio told a news conference. "When he signed our contract he clearly couldn't wait to post photos showing his excitement.
"As an official I can't confirm anything, given that in football I've seen everything. We are waiting for Ruben Kazan to announce the deal."
Inter signed Yann M'Vila pic.twitter.com/KuQBXCrPYH
- Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 11, 2014
The France international has just completed a 20-month ban from the national team after being punished for breaking team rules when on under-21 duty in November 2012, which saw him denied the chance to play at the World Cup.
Now the defensive midfielder will hope to fight his way back into the France squad following his move to the San Siro. Though he moves to Inter on loan, it is with a view to a permanent transfer.
Inter finished in fifth place in Serie A last season, qualifying for the Europa League at the end of a season which saw the end of Massimo Moratti's 18-year tenure as club president. His replacement, Erick Thohir, has promised to invest in the squad this summer, although Nemanja Vidic and Dodo are the only confirmed arrivals so far.
Ausilio did confirm their interest in Cardiff City's Chile international Gary Medel, who is expected to move on after the Welsh club's relegation from the Premier League.