Inter Milan midfielder Radja Nainggolan has revealed he turned down the opportunity to move to the Premier League despite interest from both Manchester United and Chelsea.
The Belgian, who moved to the San Siro from Serie A rivals Roma in the summer, admitted he had the opportunity to move to England but chose to remain in Italy.
“I have had plenty of chances to leave,” Nainggolan told ESPN.
“I am the kind of person who above all needs to live well and be at a club which plays to win, or where I am happy with my life.
“In Italy, you live really well – I like the culture and way of life here. Chelsea offered me more money [while at Roma in 2017] and they are a big club, yes.
“But I’m interested in waking up in the morning in a place where I feel good and, at the age of 29, winning back all the respect I’d worked 12 years to earn in Italy was not for me.
“There are lots of components – lots to evaluate. I stayed in Italy, with Roma, because I wanted to end in the best way possible. There was Manchester [United] too. There were many things that I was not interested in at all. Of course, you are flattered by the interest, but this is how it is.
“I’ve come to a club who are looking to build something big, so I think I’m in the right place.”
The 30-year-old has played his entire senior career in Italy, having formerly represented both Piacenza and Cagliari.
