Legendary Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has revealed an astonishing fact that would have seen him join the Nerazzurri ranks more than a decade ago, when he was still establishing himself as one of the world’s best central midfielders.
The 2014 World Cup winner reminisced a moment in the 2008 summer transfer window, where he almost joined Inter due to Bayern Munich wanting a certain Arsenal midfielder in Alexander Hleb.
Speaking to German broadcaster ARD in an interview (via FCInterNews), Schweinsteiger confirmed that in 2008 he was ready to leave Bayern for Italian glory.
“I already had my bags ready to go to Inter. Jürgen Klinsmann and Bayern Munich wanted another player, Alexander Hleb. But then he went to Barcelona and I stayed in Munich,” he explained.
27-year-old Hleb moved to Catalunya on 16 July 2008, to play under Pep Guardiola. This allowed Bayern to hold onto the midfield mastermind, who proved to be instrumental for the Bavarian giants’ success in the next decade.