Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic has said that he wanted to join Manchester United.
The Croatian international was linked with a move to Old Trafford last summer, with Jose Mourinho keen on securing a deal to bring the 29-year-old to the Premier League.
“I wanted Manchester United and I was about to accept, but I chose to stay because of Spalletti’s perseverance in wanting to play an important role, which are fundamental in football.’’ Perisic told Italian journalist Alessandro Rimi.
Perisic, who was part of the Croatia team beaten in last summer’s World Cup final, has been at the San Siro since 2015 having previously played in Germany with both Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg.
Inter are currently third in Serie A, nine points behind leaders Juventus and Perisic, who has scored 22 goals in 78 caps for Croatia, has refused to rule out a move away from the Italians in the future.
He added: “In future I would like to play in other countries I hope the Nerazzurri fans understand.”