M. Materazzi could have ended up in the "Roma" club © EuroFootball.com

Italian league leaders and defender of the Italian national team revealed that he received an offer to move to another team this summer, but he rejected it.

Last summer, just before the World Cup, there were rumors in the media that the player would leave the Milan club, but after his excellent performance in the championship held in Germany, "Inter" owner Massimo Moratti decided to sign a new four-year contract with the player.

"I had the opportunity to move to the "Roma" team last summer and I would have gladly done so. My relationship with the captain of this team Francesco Totti, his personal trainer Vito Scala and the technical director Bruno Conti is very good. It would have been a great opportunity. But my heart told me to stay in Milan. The "Inter" fans always supported me during the most difficult moments of my career." - said M.Materazzi.

Now both teams in Italy are main rivals. The teams will meet in the Italian Cup final, and in the "Serie A" both teams are currently at the top of the table. On Saturday, both clubs will meet at the "San Siro" stadium.

"We are now at a crossroads. These matches will show whether we are truly strong, or whether we have to fight to the end for the "Scudetto". Both teams have had a great season so far. We will step onto the pitch with the same determination as we have had throughout this season." - shared the world champion.

"We fully understand that we must avoid any mistakes. We will continue on the path to victory only by keeping our feet on the ground. We would get into trouble if we started thinking that we are unbeatable." - added the Italian.

M.Materazzi also assured that he did not provoke Gennaro Del Vecchio, who hit the "Inter" defender in the head during the last round of matches.

"I don't think I did anything wrong. If, for example, I had committed a serious violation against Francesco Totti, I am sure that a player like Daniele Rossi would have reproached me. I was just defending our goalkeeper Julio Cesar. Every player would have done the same. In the past, I made many mistakes and was attacked by opponents, but that's part of the game. And as for Sunday, I certainly don't regret that incident and if I had to do it again, I would act exactly the same way" - said M.Materazzi.