Al-Duhail defender Mehdi Benatia admitted he was close to joining Milan this summer, but said he is "happy to be in Qatar."
The Morocco international left Italy in January after spending two and a half seasons with the Bianconeri. He seemed frustrated in his last few months at Allianz Stadium and now he admits he was close to following director of sport Frederic Massara to San Siro and not going back to his former club Roma.
Al-Duhail defender Mehdi Benatia admitted he was close to joining Milan this summer, but said he is "happy to be in Qatar."
The Morocco international left Italy in January after spending two and a half seasons with the Bianconeri. He seemed frustrated in his last few months at Allianz Stadium and now he admits he was close to following director of sport Frederic Massara to San Siro and not going back to his former club Roma.
“I was only connected to Roma as long as Massara was there, and then he went to Milan and tried to bring me there,” the former Juventus defender told Tuttosport.
“I also spoke to [sporting director at Juventus Fabio] Paratici after the injury to [Giorgio] Chiellini.”
He decided against a move back to Italy, to keep on playing in Qatar Stars League.
“My current club didn’t want to let me go and I’m happy to be here,” he added.