Inter Milan Vice-President Javier Zanetti: “Real Madrid Wanted To Sign Me A Year After Signing Roberto Carlos”

Inter Vice-President Javier Zanetti has revealed that there was serious interest in his signature from Spanish giants Real Madrid not long after they signed Roberto Carlos from the Nerazzurri.

Speaking to Spanish broadcaster Radio Marca whilst at the FIFA Best Player awards, via FCInterNews, the Nerazzurri executive and former defender explained that the Merengues had targeted him but that he chose to stay at Inter.

Zanetti ended up staying at Inter for almost two decades as a player, making almost a thousand appearances across all competitions and captaining the team for the majority of those.

Moreover, the Argentine’s adventure with Inter did not end when he hung up his boots, as he is now the Vice-President at the club.

However, as he revealed, if he had accepted Madrid’s offer in 1996, Zanetti’s time at the Nerazzurri would have been over virtually over before it began.

The Nerazzurri Vice-President and former captain explained that “Real had wanted to sign me, it’s true, they were interested in signing me a year after Roberto Carlos.”