Kondogbia says Mancini phone call persuaded him to join Inter

Kondogbia says Mancini phone call persuaded him to join Inter

Published Jun. 23, 2015 4:05 a.m. ET

Geoffrey Kondogbia has revealed a phone call from Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini convinced him to join the club in a $45 million deal from Monaco.

The France international underwent a medical on Monday after signing a four-year deal worth 4 million euros a year ($4.5m) on Sunday. 

Kondogbia looked set to join AC Milan at the weekend but he said the intervention of Mancini persuaded him to choose the Nerazzurri over their arch-rivals.

ADVERTISEMENT

"It's a real pleasure for me and I hope we can achieve big things together," he told the club's television channel. "I spoke with Mancini a week ago.

"What he said really convinced me - I don't think you can say no to a club like Inter."

Kondogbia made 66 appearances for Monaco following his move from Sevilla in 2013, but reveals he wants to stay at Inter for many years.

"Being a part of this great team is a dream come true," he added. "I want to be here for as long as possible.

"As a kid I used to watch Inter play on TV, and now I'm joining this huge club. I will give my all."

FOX Soccer and Goal.com have teamed up to bring you the best in world soccer coverage. Visit Goal.com, and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

More from Goal.com:

Live transfer blog: Latest news from summer window

The summer's most expensive transfers

Transfer talk: 24/7 source for the latest rumors

share