Wenger fires Hleb warning to Inter April 26 2008
Arsene Wenger has labelled Inter Milan's pursuit of Arsenal winger Alexander Hleb as "absolutely unacceptable" - and warned he could report the matter to FIFA.
The Belarus international may have played his last club game this season after he was handed a retrospective three-match ban by the Football Association for slapping Reading captain Graeme Murty during last week's Premier League encounter at the Emirates Stadium.
But speculation over his future continues. Earlier this term it was reported Hleb held secret talks with Inter while in the city ahead of the Gunners' UEFA Champions League clash against rivals AC Milan at the San Siro.
Now Nerazzurri coach Roberto Mancini has confirmed their interest, declaring the 26-year-old was one of the players they "would like to sign".
Such manoeuvres have not impressed Wenger, with the north Londoners having already endured the 'tapping-up' saga of full-back Ashley Cole by Chelsea during 2005.
The Arsenal manager declared: "We will not accept that between big clubs. If I want a player from Inter Milan, I call Inter Milan.
"The way they proceed is absolutely unacceptable. If they are interested, why do they not call me?
"They can call us or we shall report them to FIFA. You never hear me talking about players who are under contract somewhere else.
"If I want to buy someone, I call the chairman and I ask him if he is for sale."
Wenger added: "Some Italians (clubs) are the same, they use the agent to try and destabilise the player.
"It's not destabilising me at all - but I think, if they want to buy a player from us, they call me and accept the answer they get.
"I make the decisions, if a club wants to buy a player who is under contract, they contact me, I don't have to talk about that in the newspapers because if I did I would never finish."
The French tactician, though, insists Hleb - who has impressed this season - is going nowhere.
"We want to keep the team together, I do not change my mind every week. I am quite stable on that front," insisted Wenger.
"[Under the new rules] A player can buy out his contract, but not Inter Milan. If Inter Milan wants to buy a player they have to call me."