Stefano Sturaro’s agent says the Juventus midfielder was “very close to Inter” and Chelsea also “tried”.
The 22-year-old came through the youth ranks at Genoa, and was snapped-up by the Bianconeri in 2014.
The combative midfielder has been compared to Gennaro Gattuso, and has made 20 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring once.
“Did Inter want him? Yes, absolutely,” Sturaro’s agent, Carlo Volpi, told TuttoJuve.
Stefano Sturaro’s agent says the Juventus midfielder was “very close to Inter” and Chelsea also “tried”.
The 22-year-old came through the youth ranks at Genoa, and was snapped-up by the Bianconeri in 2014.
The combative midfielder has been compared to Gennaro Gattuso, and has made 20 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring once.
“Did Inter want him? Yes, absolutely,” Sturaro’s agent, Carlo Volpi, told TuttoJuve.
“He had two big cheerleaders: Andrea Stramaccioni, who was the youth coach at the time, he called several times to say the Nerazzurri liked Stefano.
“I also talked to [Jose] Mourinho who liked Stefano, and thought he could be another [Frank] Lampard, though Stefano has different characteristics.
“Chelsea? Yes, the Blues tried along with other Premier League teams. In international games players’ value increases because they're on display.
“I can confirm though that Stefano has changed a lot since his first year with the Bianconeri, he’s increasingly Juventino inside.”
The Turin giants have a policy of buying young players from other Serie A teams, but only Claudio Marchisio has come through their own youth system to become a first team regular, is that a problem?
“I was a guest of Juve not long ago, and I have to tell you I’m impressed by the way they manage their youth sector.
“From the secretary general to all the stuff including those not working directly under [Beppe] Marotta and [Fabio] Paratici they’re working crazily in Vinovo and outside.
“I think you can definitely camly compare Juventus ‘Cantera’ to Real Madrid or Barcelona’s, with the Continassa project they’ll become the new European example.”