Fabio Borini's agent Roberto De Fanti insists the striker was holding out for a return to English football this summer before opting for a move to Turkey.
Borini completed a free transfer to Fatih Karagümrük earlier this week after months of speculation, having previously held talks with former club Swansea over a possible return to the Liberty Stadium following his release from Hellas Verona.
However, a move never materialised.
Speaking in the wake of the player's move to Turkey, De Fanti told Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb that a return to English football was his first choice, adding that the 29-year-old had even turned down approaches from a clutch of Serie A clubs in the hope of a deal being done.
“The idea was already born in the summer, but the conditions were not there, also because the original idea was to return to England," he said.
“But when some English opportunities did not arise for various reasons, we decided to look at the international market, and the Karagumruk offer seemed to us the best, economically and for the team’s ambitions.
“Fabio wanted to return to play in England. So the reasons for his refusals to some teams like Verona, Genoa, Benevento and Udinese have been misrepresented.
“They were neither of an economic nor professional nature. He had only the personal will to return to England with his family.
“There was contact with Crotone but nothing more for this reason too.”
