‘Milan and Man Utd offered 100m for Milinkovic-Savic’ | OneFootball

Former Lazio director of sport Igli Tare reveals ‘Milan and Manchester United offered €100m for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’ only for those bids to be rejected.

The Serbia international was scouted by Tare and signed from KRC Genk in the summer of 2015 at a cost of €12m, when he had been on the verge of a move to Fiorentina.

He went on to flourish with the Biancocelesti, but with his contract running down, opted to join Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League for €40m.

It could easily have been very different for Milinkovic-Savic, as confirmed by former director of sport Tare.

“Many things have been said about Milinkovic-Savic that are not true, from losing him as a free agent to the idea he didn’t want to stay,” Tare told TV Play.

“The only true thing is that President Claudio Lotito rejected a very important offer, worth over €100m, from Milan and Manchester United.

“I don’t want to get into why the sale did not go through, as Lotito wanted to maintain a strong squad and keep the promises he had made to the coach.

“Let us not forget that the season which was interrupted by COVID, Lazio were on the verge of winning the Scudetto.”

The Albanian was a Lazio player from 2005-08, then after retirement took on the role of director of sport from 2008 until June 2023.

Tare left Lazio at the end of last term and has been linked with a possible move to Napoli, who are still seeking a long-term replacement after Cristiano Giuntoli made the move to Juventus.

“I am nobody to say I wouldn’t want this or that project. Napoli is a fantastic club and a city that is crazy about football. I am pleased if Aurelio De Laurentiis admires me, but it would not be fair towards my colleagues to comment further.

“I never had direct contact with Napoli, I heard many rumours, but nobody from the club called me to suggest we collaborate together.”