Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane had a verbal agreement in place to sign midfield creator Christian Eriksen from Tottenham Hotspur, reports in Spain have confirmed.
Eriksen sealed his long-awaited exit from Spurs on Tuesday, joining Italian club Inter Milan for a fee believed to be just shy of £17m.
The move has finally brought an end to a long-running saga concerning Eriksen’s contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
But while it was little secret that Madrid were big admirers of Eriksen, it is now claimed that the Denmark international had got his heart set on making the switch to the Bernabeu, according to Spanish media outlet AS.
However, despite Madrid, who currently sit top of La Liga, having a verbal agreement with Eriksen in place, it is claimed that Zidane turned down the opportunity to add the midfield architect to his already highly-talented squad.
Eriksen, for a player of his talent, has been available for a very cheap price ever since last summer because of his contract situation - but Madrid still did not press ahead with an official move as Zidane felt his side were already well stocked in the centre of midfield.
It is also thought that Zidane favours promoting from within, handing out opportunities to the next generation of talent emerging from Real's youth academy.
The Spanish report also claims that Eriksen, 27, was on the verge of sealing a switch to Manchester United at the end of the summer transfer window last August, only for the deal to collapse at the final stage, with the former Ajax man favouring a move abroad, preferably to either Italy or Spain.
Eriksen was aware, at this stage, that Zidane was not keen on adding him to his squad and decided to hold on and seal a move to Italy instead, something that now, of course, has officially gone through.
On sealing his switch to Inter, Eriksen said: “I couldn't wait to get there, being here is beautiful and I'm happy to be a new Inter player.
“I am very excited and I can't wait to get to know the fans, I have already had the opportunity to feel their warmth, it was a fantastic welcome. I feel great.
“Honestly, I'm not one who cares a lot about numbers but I know that people like them and testify that I did a lot well in England.
“Now the time has come to take on a new challenge, I am very happy to be able to play in Serie A and with a great club like Inter, it is a fantastic club.”
