By Vince Masiello

‘El Principe’ is confident the youngster will make the grade at San Siro.

Inter striker Diego Milito has applauded the club’s decision to bring in Kenyan international midfielder McDonald Mariga on transfer deadline day after a deal for out-of-favour Lazio playmaker Cristian Ledesma fell through.

The Italian champions paid a €5 million fee to acquire half of Mariga’s sporting rights from Parma and the 22-year-old debuted in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Fiorentina in the first leg of a Coppa Italia semi-final tie.

And with the Champions League also set to resume later this month, Milito thinks Mariga will prove himself to be a welcome addition to the squad.

“The club directors are doing well in the transfer market,” the Argentine told Telelombardia.

“Mariga is a great signing for us. He is young and really big physically. He will certainly give us a hand.

“We have plenty of fixtures coming up and he is clearly able to play in this team.”

Next up for the Nerazzurri is a Serie A home clash with in-form Cagliari this weekend.