THE loudest cheer was for the heroes but the warmest tribute from the Inter Milan fans was reserved for one of their former idols writes Gordon Sharrock

Click HERE and follow the links in English for a selection of pictures from the match from the official Inter Milan website

Youri Djorkaeff could not have asked for a more emotional reception when he appeared for the second half of Saturday night's friendly in the Italian city of Reggio Emilia - the home of Serie C club Reggiana.

"Youri '6' Le Roi" the banner read - acclaiming the old number six's three year reign as King of the San Siro.

But the celebration that greeted Alvaro Recoba's stunning 85th minute strike that put the seal on the Inter win, made it clear that it is the present day stars who matter most to the Italians.

At £5.3 million a year, Recoba is reputed to be the highest paid footballer on the planet and, although there was no Ronaldo or Vieri on view, the Nerazzurri fanatics, who paid up to 50 euros to watch, felt they got their money's worth.

Wanderers had done well in the first half with Michael Ricketts testing Alberto Fontana in the Inter goal to balance the escape at the other end when Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to touch the impressive Stephane Dalmat's shot onto the post.

But the introduction of Recoba on 57 minutes - after Sam Allardyce had started to shuffle his pack - helped the Italians move up a gear.

Recoba had a hand in Inter's opener, scored by Bernardo Corradi after Djorkaeff had been caught in possession and would have taken the accolades himself if he had not twice been denied by outstanding saves by Wanderers' trialist keeper Sebastian Chabbaret, a half-time replacement for Jaaskelainen.

But clubs of the standing of Internazionale rarely splash their cash on wastrels and Recoba, the Uruguayan international, managed to have the last word.

This was, it must be stressed, a training session for both sides as they build up to the crucial opening days of their respective seasons.

It is impossible to say whose is the greater need - Wanderers are as desperate to maintain their Premiership status as Inter are to make up for last season's "failure" in finishing third in Serie A and semi-finalists in the UEFA Cup - but with the domestic season kicking off on August 10 and a vital European Champions League qualifier against Sporting Lisbon three days later, it is fair to assume that Allardyce was more relaxed than his opposite number Hector Cuper. He certainly looked it.

For failure to reach the group stages of the Champions League could have serious repercussions for the Argentine coach in a financial climate that has already seen the very existence of Rome's mighty rivals - Roma and Lazio - being dramatically brought into question.

Allardyce, who holds no store by pre-season results anyway, was justified in claiming his starting line-up was "relatively comfortable" in the first half and was happy to give Djorkaeff and fellow newcomer Jay Jay Okocha a chance to blow off the cobwebs in the second.

"A bit rusty," was how the Wanderers' boss described the dynamic duo who had their first taste of match action following their World Cup exploits with France and Nigeria respectively. "It was a fantastic work-out and, from an overall fitness point of view, I would say we are 20 to 25 per cent ahead of where we were at this stage last season.

"But the overall strength, fitness, pace and quality of Inter Milan was there for all to see. The game is not just about skilful footballers any more it's about skilful athletes, which they have through the whole of their side."

Raising the quality level is precisely why Wanderers pushed out the boat to tempt Djorkaeff and Okocha to the Reebok. Ignore their current fitness levels. Each is a top class performer in his own right and you sense that Inter skipper Javier Zanetti was sincere in his comments that his old room mate Youri still has what it takes to dictate terms in the Premiership - even at the age of 34.

"They (Bolton) are a very good team," the Argentine defender suggested, "especially when Djorkaeff entered the field.

"They were good at moving the ball and I think they will do well in the Premier League.

"Djorkaeff is a good friend of mine, we still talk all the time, and he is still a really good player. He can still make an impact in the Premiership and have a really good season.

"He is the sort of player who can do whatever he wants in a game."

More importantly, the Frenchman himself believes he can still do it.

He regarded Reggiana as nothing more than a training session - the latest phase in his build up to August 17.

"I don't even call it a first test," he said. "I have only been training a week; the real test will come when we get back to Bolton. We worked very hard in Italy and on Saturday we were probably tired after coming down from the mountains and the fresh air of Bormio.

"Inter Milan are a very good team and it was a good game but it was just part of our training. Nothing more than that."