Inter have fought off interest from AC Milan and Juventus to secure the 29-year-old's signature on a four-year contract.

Cannavaro was one of his country's few success stories at the World Cup, impressing with a series of composed performances.

"I am truly happy," the defender told the Inter website.

"I have a lot of international friends and companions at Inter."

Despite being one of the few success stories of Italy's ill-fated World Cup campaign, Cannavaro has suffered from Italian football's financial crisis.

Most of the top clubs in Europe were expected to scramble for his signature but that was before the full scale of the crisis became apparent.

"The arrival of Cannavaro is a great thing, he is one of the strongest defenders in the world," Inter's Uruguayan winger Alvaro Recoba said.