Leeds United were battling with AC Milan to sign Charles De Ketelaere this summer.
Earlier reports indicated the Whites made the best offer to Club Brugge, but the 21-year-old only wanted to join the Serie A winners.
The Rossoneri were successful in beating Leeds in taking the forward. Two days ago, Milan confirmed the Belgium international had completed a move to the San Siro and signed a five-year deal with them.
Thursday’s edition of Gazet van Antwerpen has a detailed interview with Tom De Mul and Yama Sharifi, the two individuals who manage and represent the new Milan player.
The pair explained West Ham United, Newcastle United and Arsenal were among the clubs to have made inquiries for their client, and the agents were then quizzed about Leeds.
Responding to that, Sharifi said: “Leeds were very concrete. But at one point he said: I would also like to hear another club.”
With regards to the Whites, De Mul said: “And Charles liked that too. They absolutely wanted him, he went there to play every week, with Jesse Marsch they have a top coach… To see if Leeds were really the right step, he wanted to be able to compare. Logically.
“Then we called Milan: ‘If you really want him, you have to persevere now. And persevere well, not half and half.’ Maldini was still busy with his own contract, but then called him. Charles also had a very good discussion with Stefano Pioli, and so he became completely convinced.
“Leeds already offered €40m. While Milan had a limit. But Brugge were not going to sell him for €20m, of course. So, it was up to us to raise Milan’s offer.”
With Leeds’ superior offer, Sharifi admits he felt the deal to take his client to the San Siro was ‘dead’ at one point. De Mul adds Club Brugge weren’t ready to hold further talks with Milan, after their leaders made a trip to Belgium to hold talks for De Ketelaere.
Sharifi admits he and De Mul had to design a strategy to break the deadlock between the two sides so that the attacker’s move to Milan went through.
“Then we had to fly to Lugano. Phew, that was really crucial. Two superpowers faced each other and felt misunderstood. It became a real battle,” Sharifi explained.
“The outside world cannot understand how difficult it is to resolve such a situation. Tom and I then had to determine a strategy. We had to do everything we could to push that transfer through.”
There were claims the Belgian stopped training with Club Brugge in order to force a move to Milan. De Mul admits the easiest way out for his client was to join Jesse Marsch’s side for financial reasons.
“Charles has always been professional. He only said once he really couldn’t train because he wasn’t feeling well mentally,” De Mul said.
“And simply because your club wants more money. As a player, that’s hard to handle. I had prepared him for it. I told him: You want to go to Milan? Top. But get ready for six tough weeks.
“It was easiest to choose Leeds after all. That was not only financially more interesting for Club Brugge, but also for Charles and for us.
“Certainly, because it was the choice of his heart [to go to Milan]. He told me: I grew up in a club that wins titles and plays Champions League. I don’t want to give that up.”
