Inter full-back Yuto Nagatomo has revealed that he turned down the chance to join Manchester United in favour of staying at the San Siro.
The Japanese international has seen his playing time limited this season, which in turn has raised the possibility of Roberto Mancini opting to sell him.
While the January transfer window came and went, it is expected that a summer departure from the Nerazzurri is still a possibility, although Nagatomo has conceded that he already turned down a move to Old Trafford and still wants an extension.
“My contract renewal? I hope so, we are talking about it. The good news will come soon,” he told Mediaset Premium, as noted by Football Italia.
“It’s true, I turned down Manchester United, because I like staying here with my teammates and the staff, it feels like my family. I want to stay at Inter.”
Although an opportunity to play for Inter is certainly still a prestigious spot to be in, a chance to play for United would seemingly be a difficult offer to turn down for the majority of players.
In turn, whether or not more should be read into Nagatomo turning it down is up for debate, as there could be argument to suggest that the Premier League giants don’t have the same appeal as they once did.
United are currently in sixth spot in the league, four points adrift of rivals Manchester City who currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot.
If Louis van Gaal fails to get them into Europe’s premier competition this season, the club could perhaps face this type of situation more regularly with certain targets despite the fact that they remain a financial powerhouse and a highly attractive landing spot for many players in world football.