10 Players You Didn't Know Nearly Signed For Inter Milan

9. Tom Ince

For Blackpool winger Tom Ince, there were two options. There was the opportunity to play at the San Siro, the prestige of representing the Nerazzurri, a club with a trophy case stacked with 18 league titles and three European Cups. Throw in the added bonus of the fact that his father Paul was held in such high regard at the San Siro, having played for Inter in the mid-90s, and they certainly looked an attractive proposition for the talented 22 year old. His other option was Hull City - a club who had been languishing in the fourth tier of English football until ten years ago, and without a top-flight honour to their name. With a ground of a capacity of 25,400, dwarfed in comparison to the spectacle of the San Siro, there looked to be little doubt as to where the boy was going to choose. Or, did there? Having flown to Milan to host preliminary talks with Inter officials, the Italian giants were hopeful of securing a deal for the youngster, when he surprisingly turned down their offer.

''It was very close. I went out there and spent a good three or four days there. I went to the San Siro, the training ground and it was unbelievable to stand there in that environment. That۪s an ambition of mine, but I don۪t think you should jump the gun. You۪ve got to realise that when you۪re a young lad, you have to educate yourself and make moves for the right reasons. At my age, I have to think about football development.۪۪ - Tom Ince, July 2014.

Sounds like a very mature decision there, Tom. For his sake, let€™s hope he doesn€™t look back on his career when he€™s old and grey with a tinge of regret at having spurned the opportunity to taste a European club in the summer of 2014.