Sneijder denies United move claims

Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder has discounted claims that he wanted to join Manchester United in the summer.

But Sneijder has conceded if the right bid had been made, the Serie A side’s financial situation might have forced him out.

The Netherlands international was persistently linked with a move to the Premier League champions because of the cash crisis at the Giuseppe Meazza, but Samuel Eto’o was sold to Anzhi Makhachkala instead.

The former Real Madrid star has insisted that he is content at Inter, and did not ask to leave.

“I never wanted to leave Inter,” the 27-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Over the summer they called me and said, I think due to a financial issue, that I could be leaving Italy. This made me change my ideas a little bit, but once I got to pre-season training everyone made me feel important to this club.”

Claudio Ranieri’s men have started this term sluggishly, but the attacking midfielder feels his side can make up the ground on their title rivals.

“We can make up the eight points separating us from the top of the table now that the most important players have recovered from injury,” Sneijder said.

“I see our principle opponents as being Napoli. Now we must concentrate on the games against Chievo and Atalanta so we can reach next week’s match with Juventus in the right spirit.”

“We’ve got to be more clinical and try to finish games off earlier,” the Dutchman said.