Teams have been showing interest in Mario Balotelli.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MILAN, Italy -- Inter Milan says Maicon and Mario Balotelli are not for sale, despite interest from a number of rival European teams.

Maicon, the Brazilian right back, was linked with a move to Real Madrid after former Inter coach Jose Mourinho took over at the Santiago Bernabeu, while Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have shown interest in Balotelli.

"These two players have never been on the market and Balotelli doesn't have a price," technical director Marco Branca told reporters Thursday. "If and when there are requests, we will look at them, but they are not on the market.

"We are in a privileged situation. We have won lots and it is true that everyday we receive telephone calls because everyone wants at least six or seven of our great players."

Balotelli fell out with Mourinho last season after the Portuguese complained about the striker's attitude on and off the pitch. However, Mourinho's successor, Rafael Benitez, says he is happy to work with the 19-year-old Italian.

Inter has yet to make any major signings this off-season, a contrast to last year when Diego Milito, Thiago Motta, Samuel Eto'o, Lucio and Wesley Sneijder arrived.

The club has been linked to Argentina captain Javier Mascherano, but so far it has brought back striker Jonathan Biabiany from his loan spell at Parma and signed goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi as cover for Julio Cesar.

One player the club has high hopes for is 18-year-old Brazilian midfielder Coutinho, whom Inter signed from Vasco De Gama earlier in the year.

"We have taken some major steps in securing our future," Branca said. "We have Coutinho, who is young and technically gifted. We will look to him for our future, but give him time to develop without pressure.

"We have brought Biabiany home and have an excellent and highly experienced goalkeeper in Castellazzi."