I’m fortunate enough (ok, might not say that tomorrow if Inter win the final on a penalty shootout after a goalless 120 minutes) to be in Madrid to catch the European Cup Final this evening. I’ve managed to get a ticket, and booked back in February before the last 16 round had been resolved. I wanted to attend to watch a final in the Bernabeu, one of the world’s great football stadiums. I would rather be watching Barcelona than Inter tonight, but you can’t have everything.

Anyway, a friend is staying in the same hotel as some of UEFA’s top brass. I went to see him today, and bumped into Michel Platini in the hotel lift. It was a surreal experience, but to avoid that awkward elevator silence, I asked him who he favoured in this evening's match. Ever the diplomat, he claimed he didn’t mind. Yeah, right. No-one who ever watches a football match does not end up rooting for one team or the other. Anyway, as for the playing of the final on a Saturday, a move I am not sure I approve of being a bit of a traditionalist, he cited the kick off times in the America and China. More will be able to watch it than would on a Wednesday. Presumably, this is linked to pushing up advertising and television revenue, but the UEFA President was never going to admit to that.

Word is that most of the UEFA top brass are actually wanting an Inter win, as a kind of compensation for the financial fair play rules that will be introduced soon. It’s like some kind of goodbye present to Inter owner Massimo Moratti, who has been ploughing ridiculous amounts of money into the club for longer than I care to think about. Having waited so long to see it bear fruit in this competition, chances are he won’t be back too soon once clubs are only allowed to spend what they earn. And in fairness, it’s a system that could benefit Arsenal.

On that note Arsene Wenger was supposed to be attending a lunch at the hotel. However, he called to say he’s too busy, apparently dealing with transfer business. One would assume that this is to do with the Fabregas sale, and his need to take part in negotiations suggest that this is not just a matter of money, but money and players.

There is a view that Barca are willing to let Ibrahimovic, Yaya Toure, Bojan and Marquez go. Certainly, to afford both David Villa and the Arsenal captain, some offloading would seem to be a necessity. One can only speculate that when the deal is confirmed, it will involve cash plus players. How much and who is presumably what’s on the Arsenal manager’s menu today.

As for tonight’s match, it’s a sweltering day in Madrid, and this evening will be nice and balmy, exactly as a European Cup Final should be. I hope Bayern win simply because Inter lean a little too heavily on the negative side of the game, and it doesn’t make for an enjoyable experience. Of course, football is a results business, and I won’t begrudge an Inter win if Wesley Sneijder is their outstanding performer on the night. My main hope is for more than two goals in the game. If we get that, then we’ll have seen a decent game of football.

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