First the Spanish press was adamant, and now its Italian counterparts agree: Fernando Alonso is destined to be unveiled as a Ferrari driver.
The story is this week being carried by Italy's specialist La Gazzetta dello Sport as well as Autosprint.
The latter magazine, in the same issue containing Jacques Villeneuve's declaration that he wants to return to F1, showed on its cover a photo-shopped image of 27-year-old Alonso wearing red overalls and the caption 'Alonso will be a Ferrarista from 15 November'.
La Gazzetta claims the Spaniard's deal, for two years and options for three more, was actually drawn up last summer but Ferrari has "decided to keep totally silent", probably because Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen are under contract for 2010.
The sports daily says Raikkonen has been advised by lawyers to insist the Maranello based team honour the agreement, meaning that if Ferrari wants to replace him, they will have to pay his full 28m euro fee next year.
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