Inter made ‘several attempts’ to sign Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka as a youngster, according to a former Nerazzurri scout today.
The Nerazzurri were briefly linked with a deal for the Swiss international back in January, when Christian Eriksen seemed destined to return to the Premier League.
Xhaka ultimately stayed in North London but that was not the first time Inter had tried to snap up the 28-year-old, who had previous spells with Basel and Borussia Monchengladbach.
Adelio Moro, a former Inter scout who also played with the Nerazzurri for three years in the 1970s, wrote in Tuttosport’s print edition: “Around the 2010-11 season, we were starting to assess our options for midfielders who could become long-term replacements for Esteban Cambiasso or Thiago Motta.
“Xhaka was the youngster at the top of our list; he’d convinced everyone, not just me.
“Inter solved the problem eventually by signing Marcelo Brozovic in 2015, but before then they tried to sign Xhaka on several occasions.
“They wanted him while he was at Basel and then when he was with Borussia Monchengladbach.”
Xhaka eventually left Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2016, signing for Arsenal in a reported €40 million deal.
The midfielder has since made 215 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions, including 40 this season under Mikel Arteta.
“At the time I’d have expected Xhaka to join a higher-profile club than Arsenal,” Moro admitted.
“I’m thinking of clubs like Bayern Munich or Manchester City.”
Xhaka has also made 92 appearances for Switzerland’s national team and became their captain in 2018.
