Barcelona & Inter wanted to sign El Shaarawy, claims agent

05-Mar-2013 2:40:00 PM

The young attacker's representative has revealed that the Spanish league leaders and the Nerazzurri were keen to sign the 20-year-old

Stephan El Shaarawy's agent Roberto La Florio has claimed that both Inter and Barcelona were interested in signing his client before he eventually joined AC Milan.

The Italy international, 20, caught the interest of several big clubs with his performances on loan at Padova in 2010-11, and eventually left Genoa for Milan when the Rossoneri made an approach.

However, his representative has now revealed that he could have ended up elsewhere had Milan not moved so quickly.

"A lot of clubs were interested in signing Stephan at the time," La Florio told Rai.

"Inter were keen to sign him, a number of Premier League sides wanted him, and Barcelona were after him too if I remember correctly.

"Nevertheless, Milan acted quickly to snap him up before any other team made a move."

El Shaarawy, who has already netted 16 Serie A goals this term, recently inked a new deal with Milan until June 2018.