Sulleyman Ali "Sulley" Muntari (born 27 August 1984 in Konongo, Ghana) is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Internazionale. He is a central midfielder, but can also play as Defensive Midfielder. He also plays for the Ghana national team, but his relationship with the Ghana Football Association has been rocky at times. During his early childhood he was mentored by Ghanaian soccer legend Kwadwo Owusu-Boaitey. He credits Owusu-Boaitey and Nate Lee-Deison for much of his success. Internazionale Milano F.C.
On 2 March 2007, it was reported in the Italian press that Inter were preparing a summer offer for the midfielder. Injuries to Esteban Cambiasso and Patrick Vieira underlined just how short of ball-winning midfielders the "Nerazzurri" were and they would remedy that problem in June 2007. Transfer consultants Marco Branca and Gabriele Oriali were looking around Europe for possible options and Muntari seemed to be their man at the insistence of then Coach Roberto Mancini[16], although Muntari ultimately went to Portsmouth in the summer of 2007. But on 21 July 2008 Italian newspaper La Repubblica[17][18] reported that with the probable failure of new Inter Coach José Mourinho to land his former Chelsea protégé Frank Lampard, Muntari was now his first choice central midfielder. The reports gathered pace in the Italian Press[19] in the next few days that Muntari had already agreed a 4-year contract[20] with Inter. But Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp told Sky Sports News "I don't want to sell him. He is one of my best players and is a terrific young talent" when quizzed about Inter's supposed interest in Muntari[21].
On 24 July 2008, BBC[22] and Gazzetta dello Sport[23] reported that Muntari would complete a €16 million plus bonuses move to Inter[24][25]. He finally completed his move to Inter on 28 July 2008 and wore the number 20 jersey[26], previously worn by Álvaro Recoba for many years.
On November 22, 2008, Muntari scored the winner following a wrong shot on goal from Zlatan Ibrahimović in the Derby d'Italia against rivals Juventus. Two weeks later, Muntari scored a backheel goal against Napoli at the San Siro after a great cross from Maicon, a match that ended 2–1 for Inter. In the very last Serie A match of the season on 31 May 2009 versus Atalanta, he opened the scoring for Inter after blasting in a Luís Figo cross from outside the penalty box. Later, his shot on goal was parried by the goalkeeper but Esteban Cambiasso scored from the rebound to make the score 3–3. Inter eventually won 4–3 and Muntari won his first Scudetto after his first season with the club.
In August 2009, his manager Jose Mourinho again found himself causing controversy after commenting that Muntari, a practising muslim, was lacking fitness and energy due to fasting during the month of Ramadan. He was reported to have said 'Muntari had some problems related to Ramadan, perhaps with this heat it's not good for him to be doing this (fasting). Ramadan has not arrived at the ideal moment for a player to play a football match.'[27] .
However, since these comments many Muslims and non-Muslims have come out in defence of Mourinho saying that no offense was meant towards the player, but while the manager could have been more tactful in his treatment of the issue it stands to reason that a lack of food and water will affect a player's stamina and energy level.[28]
In a 2009-10 Serie A match involving Inter and Catania, Sulley Muntari was involved in a remarkable incident. Coming on as a 79th minute substitute for Esteban Cambiasso with the match tied at 1 – 1, he promptly received a double yellow card for a rash tackle on his opponent. As the free kick was struck by the Giuseppe Mascara, Muntari was standing in the penalty box and he managed to stop the ball in the air using his hand. Logically, Muntari received a second yellow card and was sent off after playing for approximately one and a half minute. The following penalty was scored by Mascara with a wonderful 81st minute chip. With a minute to full time, Jorge Andrés Martínez dribbled past Lúcio and scored to seal the victory at 3–1.
International career
Muntari had his first taste of an international fixture in the youth squad and was chosen for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship as Ghana took second place. He won his first senior cap against Slovenia on 17 May 2002, and became a regular fixture in the team as The Black Stars opened their 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. He was selected for the Olympic side at Athens 2004, but was sent home for disciplinary reasons[29]. This started a dispute between Muntari and his federation, and he said that he would refuse to play for his country again, beating the record for the youngest international retirement.[30] He retracted, making a public apology to the federation[31], and was selected for the 2006 World Cup squad. He played in the first two matches, a 2–0 defeat by Italy and a 2–0 win over the Czech Republic, in which he scored, but having received a yellow cards in each game, he was suspended for the game against the United States, but returned for the second round match against Brazil, in which Ghana was eliminated.
He remained a regular member of the team, and appeared in the 2008 African Cup of Nations side, scoring the winner in the first group match against Guinea and the second goal in the last group match against Morocco. He scored his 3rd goal of the tournament when he scored a freekick against Côte d'Ivoire in the 3rd place play off. His goal against Guinea, a 25m left-footed pile-driver in the 89th minute was voted one of the Best Goals of the Tournament[32].
He was voted as an All-Star Player during the 2008 African Cup of Nations Tournament in Ghana. The Team of the Tournament was decided by the Technical Study Group (TSG) after careful observations of all the tournament's matches[33].
Although expected to play for Ghana in the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola, Muntari was excluded from the national team due to disciplinary problems. After purposefully missing an international friendly against Angola, he also snubbed a meeting with coach Milovan Rajevac[34]. Muntari later issued a full apology to his country and coach[35].
Muntari was selected for Ghana's 2010 FIFA World Cup squad. After not being included in the starting line-up for the team's first two matches, Muntari was reportedly expelled from the squad for insulting Rajevac and his teammates.[36] However, after an intervention by former captain Stephen Appiah, he was reinstated [37] and went on to make two further substitute appearances against Germany and the USA before starting the quarter final against Uruguay in place of the suspended Andre Ayew. During the match Muntari scored a long range effort in first half stoppage time, putting Ghana ahead 1-0 at half-time.
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