Santon tackles Ronaldo

By Chris,
April 18 2009

Internazionale’s teenage defender Davide Santon has revealed that he turned down a move to Old Trafford two years ago. The 18-year-old has established himself as a regular first-team feature with the San Siro club but claims that he had the opportunity to join both United and Chelsea at the age of sixteen.

Santon played the full 180 minutes of United's hard-fought two-legged European Cup win over Inter this season.

The youngster has flourished under the guidance of Jose Mourinho - but has revealed that he could be playing Premier League football had he opted to move to England two years ago.

Speaking to Corriere Dello Sport, the starlet said: "The Italian youth system works really well, this is why all the big clubs come here to take players."

"I could have also gone to play in England because I knew Manchester United, Chelsea and other teams were asking about me.

"However, Inter offered me my first professional deal when I was 16 and it stopped me from going."

Inter currently top Serie A by a whopping ten points and the Black-Blues look almost certain to claim a seventeenth Italian championship this season. Mourinho's men travel to second-placed Juventus on Saturday evening and the Turin club need maximum points to retain any hopes of catching high-flying Inter.