Mauro Icardi turned down a move to a host of top European sides including Real Madrid before signing a new deal with Inter Milan.
Wanda Nara – the wife and agent of Icardi – told Sport Week that the Nerazzurri captain signed a new long-term deal with the side despite offers from a range of clubs including Madrid, Juventus, Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur.
"I pointed out to [Inter director Piero Ausilio] that there were many offers, so was Mauro meant to stay or go? He replied: 'Then show me these offers.' I was upset, as we had bought a house in Milan and he's happy here," explained Nara.
"Seeing as Ausilio wanted to see the offers, I brought him the proposals from PSG, Napoli and Juventus. There was also Tottenham, although they spoke directly with Piero.
"Mauro was on the verge of joining Real Madrid and Juve sought him until two minutes before they secured Gonzalo Higuain.
"Ausilio and I argued throughout the entire negotiation process, but in the end we're always friends again. He's a great professional.
"I swear on my children that Mauro knew nothing about what was happening. He wanted to keep his mind clear of these thoughts. However, he started seeing strange faces in the training retreat and at that point started asking me if the stories were true.
"Only at the end did he discover how advanced the negotiations with the other clubs really were."
