Inter have declined the offer from Chelsea for midfielder Cesare Casadei as they prefer to make a deal with an Italian team for the 19-year-old.

This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, who report that the Nerazzurri are reluctant to let Casadei leave for Chelsea and would see it as more strategically viable to send him to a team in Italy with a buyback option.

Chelsea have been pushing for Casadei in the past few days, and made their first offer for the young midfielder worth €8 million.

Inter immediately rejected the Blues’ bid, and value Casadei at no less than €15 million, while they would not want to let the player go to the Premier League club this summer as they feel that his value could skyrocket.

Casadei could be set for his first senior national team call-up in the coming months as he is on Roberto Mancini’s radar, and the Nerazzurri feel that the best course of action would be for him to continue his development at an Italian club, where they could also retain a buyback option.