Strootman signed for Roma earlier this week for £17.2 million, an amount AC Milan were unwilling to pay.
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AC Milan’s vice president Adriano Galliani has claimed that the club were interested in signing Kevin Strootman before he signed for Roma but were unwilling to pay PSV’s £17.2 million valuation of the midfielder, Goal.com reports.
Strootman sealed his move to Roma earlier this week and signed a five year contract with the Italian club.
Milan were tracking the 23 year old but Gallaini admits that his side weren’t prepared to pay the eight figure sum that PSV were demanding.
“Strootman is a very strong player who we had tracked for a while, but we did not have €20m for a player like him,” the Rossoneri vice-president told Sky Sport.
“Roma did a great deal, though, as he is a player of the very highest level.”
Strootman had also been a reported target for Manchester United, with former manager Sir Alex Ferguson said to be keen on the Dutch midfielder last summer.
However, the Red Devils are currently pursing a move for Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas, so Roma moved in for Strootman without any real opposition.
Galliani has also ruled out Milan signing any strikers this summer, believing the Italian club are well stocked with players like Mario Balotelli at the San Siro.