Jovetic twice went close to joining Inter Milan last year, says Ausilio
Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio has revealed his club twice went close to signing Manchester City forward Stevan Jovetic last year.
The Nerazzurri were looking to strengthen their attacking line last summer and made an approach to acquire the Montenegro international in the hope of luring him back to Serie A.
Jovetic, 25, spent five seasons with Italian side Fiorentina before moving to City on a £22million deal in 2013.
"We were so close to Jovetic," Ausilio told Sky Italia. "Not just last summer but in January, too.
"We pushed hard to get him but then an injury to (Alvaro) Negredo and the wish of the player to remain at City made the negotiations very difficult."
Spanish forward Negredo, who is currently on loan at Valencia from City until the end of the season, broke his foot last summer during the pre-season with City.
"I honestly had great hope," Ausilio said. "Jovetic is a player that we still like a lot but there's a problem. He is a City player and it's a very rich club."
Inter face a similar situation with their dream transfer target Yaya Toure.
The Ivory Coast midfielder is a player Inter boss Roberto Mancini knows well after coaching him from 2010 until 2013 at the Barclays Premier League club.
Toure is under contract with the Blues outfit until June 2017.
"For the time being it's just a dream," Ausilio said. "It's good to have them and cultivate them.
"But we are looking to prepare something serious and important for the future. We want to build something that becomes a reality.
"It could be that he (Toure) wants to play in a different league. But he is a Manchester City player, he is in a very strong club that has no intention to let go of a player of that calibre."
Inter are 10th in Serie A, 29 points adrift of Serie A leaders Juventus after a disappointing season.
