Inter owned defender Valentino Lazaro has revealed he could have joined the club years prior to him actually joining.
The Austrian national team defender joined Inter this past Summer in a circa €20 million deal from Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin but has admitted he came close to joining the Nerazzurri whilst he was on the books of Austrian Bundesliga side RB Salzburg.
“Was it like deja-vu when I went to Inter? It was because there are actually still the same people working [at Inter], and they remember the first time I went there. They said, ‘we still have your contract from way back then, seven years ago!’ We were laughing about that,” he admitted in an interview with Newcastle United’s match day programme that was never published in print form due to Premier League games being postponed but the Magpies posted the interview to their club website instead.
He was also asked about if he feels any sort of pressure in being part of a historic club like Inter.
“In the world nowadays that we live in, everybody can give an opinion and you as a football player just have to be an extension of that, and just keep going.”
In conclusion the 23-year-old, who Newcastle United have an option to buy for €23.5 million at the end of the season, spoke on his future.
“I’ve had a lot of questions about summer already but what I can say is that I’m fully focused here. I wouldn’t have come here if I wouldn’t be committed to the club. I’m happy to be here, and just focus on that.
“I’m not really thinking about just my own future right now. I want to help the club achieve their goals and, of course, show myself as well.”
This season he has made 16 appearances across all competitions between Inter and Newcastle United in which he has scored one goal and provided two assists.
