By Jamie Sanderson
Wesley Sneijder has urged Inter Milan to try and sign ‘mad’ Manchester City enforcer Nigel De Jong this summer, with the Dutch utility man currently contemplating quitting the Etihad Stadium.
De Jong has impressed in a variety of defensive positions since joining City from Hamburg in 2009, but he has struggled for match time in the last 12 months, and made just 14 league appearances last season.
City manager Roberto Mancini is said to be happy to offload the player, who has interest from Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Roma, with a decision on his future expected in the next few days.
De Jong has already had contact with some of the clubs over a move, but his Dutch compatriot Sneijder is leading the charge for Inter to try and pinch the player at the last minute.
‘Inter must sign De Jong,’ Sneidjer told the Italian media.
‘He’s football mad! I know him well and he would be fit in here.’
Sneijder was speaking amid intense speculation in Italy that Inter are ready to try and bring De Jong to the San Siro on a season-loan long, with the option to buy.
De Jong still has two and a half years left to run and his City contract, and Mancini won’t consider selling the player for less than £8 million.
