Olympique de Marseille midfielder Florian Thauvin has confirmed that the Italian giants came knocking this summer, but he elected to stay at OM without studying the offer.
Thauvin has impressed at the Stade Vélodrome since his 15-million-euro transfer from LOSC Lille in September 2013, helping his side to a sixth-place finish last season with eight goals and three assists, and was recently described by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as 'French football's great hope'. Despite interest from Atletico Madrid and Chelsea alongside that of Inter and the Gunners this summer, Thauvin says he had no intention of taking his services outside of Ligue 1.
'I'm at OM'
"The president (Vincent Labrune) had some contact with Inter Milan," Thauvin told OM's official website this week. "It was very clear for both the president and myself that it was out of the question for me to leave now. Quite honestly, I didn't look at the offer. It was flattering, it was from a great club, but I'm at OM."
The news will be music to the ears of Les Phocéens fans, with new manager Marcelo Bielsa trading barbs with Labrune in recent weeks over player recruitment on the south coast. Thauvin, 21, is under contract at Marseille until 2018, and already has two goals and an assist to his name this season, with OM currently second in the table after five games.
