"Maniche is Inter's. This morning, having completed a medical, he signed a contract with the club until June. 30 2008," Inter said on their official site.

Manager Roberto Mancini sounded his delight with the new signing.

"I think that he is an excellent player and with the problems that Walter Samuel and Olivier Dacourt have he could bring useful experience and quality to all competitions," Mancini said in a press conference.

"It is very important to have a player like Maniche and it is very good that he can play in the Champions League."

Inter have suffered persistent problems in midfield this season with Dacourt, Patrick Vieira and Dejan Stankovic facing a series of injuries.