Former Inter midfielder Rafinha says he did not sign for the Nerazzurri permanently this summer because Luciano Spalletti did not want to keep him at the club.
The Brazilian impressed during a six-month loan spell in Italy last season, scoring two goals and providing three assists as Inter secured UEFA Champions League qualification for the first time in six seasons, but returned to parent club Barcelona in the summer after the club opted not to exercise their €35 million option to buy.
Speaking to SportMediaset ahead of Wednesday’s clash against his former club at the Camp Nou, Rafinha ruled out a return to Inter in the future but said he still feels part of the club and promised not to celebrate were he to score tomorrow evening.
“I still carry Inter in my heart,” he said.
“I thought I’d stay on but in the end they chose other players. Spalletti is a great coach but I think he didn’t want to keep hold of me.
“I know that all the fans wanted me to stay in the summer and started the hashtag #riprendiRafinha: it was a show of real affection towards me which I would like to send back to them.
“I was very happy in Milan, there was an immediate and natural empathy there. I felt like I was part of a family.
“I experienced some brilliant moments, like when we secured Champions League qualification against Lazio, but most of all I started playing football again after a long spell out.
“I have a lot of friends in Milan: even now I still speak to some of the players, the medical staff and the management. Sadly though the door was closed this summer and I don’t think it will be reopened.
“Inter are a great team and I hope they can progress in the Champions League. It’s a special match for me which I hope will produce great excitement.
“Of course, if I were to score I wouldn’t celebrate out of respect, because Inter are still a part of me.”
