Inter defender Milan Skriniar really was close to leaving the Nerazzurri last summer, according to an Italian media report.

Skriniar has regained his spot in Antonio Conte’s side this season after falling out of favour towards the end of the last campaign, leading to interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

CalcioMercato.com have claimed the Slovakian international centre-back was subject to a €35 million offer from the Premier League side, but that Inter opted against letting him leave.

Inter were unwilling to let Skriniar go for anything less than €50 million at that time and now value him in the region of €60 million.

Liverpool were also linked with moving for Skriniar at the time but the report explains that there was never an official offer from the reigning Premier League champions.

Skriniar, who joined the Nerazzurri in the summer of 2017 and is contracted to the club until the end of the 2022-23 season, has made 25 appearances across all competitions to date, in which he has managed to score two goals.

He produced one of his greatest ever performances in an Inter shirt on Sunday as Conte’s side went top of Serie A with a 3-1 win over Lazio.

Conte and the club’s management will both be relieved they did not sacrifice the 26-year-old in the transfer market six months ago.