Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo has revealed that he turned down the chance to join Manchester United in January.
It was suggested that the Red Devils were keen to snap up the Japan international, whose present contract with Inter runs until the summer, during the winter transfer window.
But Nagatomo stayed put at the San Siro and the 29-year-old insisted that he wants to extend his stay with the Italian giants whom he “loves”.
"I love this team and I want to stay here”, he told Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
“That's why I said no to Manchester United."
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Nagatomo, who is the first East Asian player to play for Inter, joined the club from Cesena in 2011.
He has thus far clocked up 165 appearances in all competitions for the Nerazzurri, scoring 11 times and providing 18 assists.
The left-back, who helped Inter to win the Coppa Italia in his first season at the club, also has 87 caps and three goals for Japan to his name.
Nagatomo’s present employers are currently fourth in Serie A, 11 points adrift of leaders Napoli.
