Yuto Nagatomo to Manchester United: Inter Milan defender admits he turned down Red Devils in January
United have struggled with a succession of injuries in defensive areas this season
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United failed with a bid to sign Inter Milan full-back Yuto Nagatomo in the January transfer window after the Japanese international elected to remain in Italy.
Louis van Gaal, the United manager, has struggled with a host of injuries in defensive areas this season as his side, six points adrift of the top four, look certain to miss out on Champions League qualification.
The Dutchman launched a bid to take Nagatomo to Old Trafford but the 29-year-old, speaking to Inter’s in-house television channel, has revealed how he turned down the opportunity to play in England.
“I like everything about Inter, I want to stay here and renew my contract,” Nagatomo told Inter's TV channel. “I turned down an offer from Manchester United, as my desire is to stay here. I have an excellent rapport with Roberto Mancini.
“I'm having a great time, though I had the most fun with Wesley Sneijder, Marco Materazzi, Javier Zanetti and Antonio Cassano.
“Marco taught me Italian, including a few swearwords! Now I do some yoga exercises with Samir Handanovic before a game.
“It was very difficult when I first arrived at Cesena, because I didn't understand any Italian at all. I didn't have an interpreter either. Then I went to Italian school and everything got better.”
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