Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic has revealed he turned down offers from the Premier League clubs to join the Spanish champions last summer because according to him it was the ‘best move for his career’.
Mandzukic was heavily linked with a move to join English clubs with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in the previous transfer window, but the Croatian international opted for a £17.5m switch to the Spanish club from the Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
The 28-year-old has no regrets about his move and he told Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti (quoted by the Mirror): “I had better offers than from Atletico. There were calls from the UK that interested me, but I believe that their style of football is simply not my way. There were also interest from Italy and some concrete offers from Russia.”
“I’m very pleased with everything. I couldn’t choose a better path after leaving Bayern Munich. The fans here accepted me immediately. Atletico was the best possible decision for me at this stage of my career.”
Mandzukic has been in excellent for this season, scoring six goals in 12 appearances for Los Rojiblancos.
