Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder claims Jose Mourinho told him to reject a move to Manchester United and stay at the San Siro.
Mourinho, now at Real Madrid, guided Inter to the Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia treble in 2009-10 and made Sneijder the playmaker of the all-conquering side.
Sneijder has admitted that he was in contact with Premier League champions United during the summer transfer window but a move never materialised and the 27-year-old revealed his former manager played a big part in the decision.
"Mourinho called me and he told me to stay. He has an Inter heart and he has always told me to remain," Sneijder told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I am happy to have stayed because I never wanted to leave and so I no longer want to speak about Manchester United."
Sneijder had long been linked with a move to Old Trafford but when team-mate Samuel Eto'o was sold to Anzhi Makhachkala it was always unlikely that Inter would allow another star name leave the club.
"My agent called me and told me Inter wanted to sell. I spoke with Manchester United, but then the Eto'o sale started and so things changed," the Holland international explained.
Despite Sneijder's claims that he is happy at Inter the UK press have been full of reports that a move to Old Trafford could be back on in January.
The Sunday Mirror claims it was Sneijder's demands that scuppered a £30 million summer switch but the player has told 'people close to him' that a move to United could be resurrected in January.
A source told the newspaper: "Wesley wanted to go to United and was in negotiations until quite late. They couldn't agree terms but he is still saying he will end up at United."
Sneijder has admitted that he was in contact with Premier League champions United during the summer transfer window but a move never materialised and the 27-year-old revealed his former manager played a big part in the decision.
"Mourinho called me and he told me to stay. He has an Inter heart and he has always told me to remain," Sneijder told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I am happy to have stayed because I never wanted to leave and so I no longer want to speak about Manchester United."
Sneijder had long been linked with a move to Old Trafford but when team-mate Samuel Eto'o was sold to Anzhi Makhachkala it was always unlikely that Inter would allow another star name leave the club.
"My agent called me and told me Inter wanted to sell. I spoke with Manchester United, but then the Eto'o sale started and so things changed," the Holland international explained.
Despite Sneijder's claims that he is happy at Inter the UK press have been full of reports that a move to Old Trafford could be back on in January.
The Sunday Mirror claims it was Sneijder's demands that scuppered a £30 million summer switch but the player has told 'people close to him' that a move to United could be resurrected in January.
A source told the newspaper: "Wesley wanted to go to United and was in negotiations until quite late. They couldn't agree terms but he is still saying he will end up at United."
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