Wesley Sneijder has decided to leave Real Madrid, where he had fallen out of favour, for Italian champions Inter Milan.
The clubs have yet to confirm the deal but the Spanish and Italian media have reported the clubs had agreed a fee of €15 million with another €3 million linked to the player's performance and appearances.
Sneijder had earlier pledged his future to the Spanish side, saying Real sporting director Jorge Valdano wanted him to stay.
But after a round of talks with Valdano yesterday afternoon, the Dutch midfielder was told he had no future at the club and it now seems he has agreed to make the switch to Serie A.
"I'm going with my head high," Sneijder told Marca. "I'm going to a great team, there's no doubt about that.
"I've been very happy here but now I have to look ahead and focus on my new team.
"The truth is that I was very happy here, it's something that I cannot deny. It makes me sad to go but that's the way it is. That's life.
"Now the only thing I can say is that I'm happy. I'm changing one great club for another great club."
Sneijder, who is reported to have agreed a five-year contract with a net annual salary of €4 million, claims he is being pushed out of the door by Real, who are trying to offload to counterbalance the mega-millions purchase of Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso.
He added: "What has happened with me is something very strange. The coach said he counted on me but there are people at the club who don't.
"They have treated me very badly but I prefer not to talk about it. I'm going to give everything there (Inter). Life and football move on."
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The clubs have yet to confirm the deal but the Spanish and Italian media have reported the clubs had agreed a fee of €15 million with another €3 million linked to the player's performance and appearances.
Sneijder had earlier pledged his future to the Spanish side, saying Real sporting director Jorge Valdano wanted him to stay.
But after a round of talks with Valdano yesterday afternoon, the Dutch midfielder was told he had no future at the club and it now seems he has agreed to make the switch to Serie A.
"I'm going with my head high," Sneijder told Marca. "I'm going to a great team, there's no doubt about that.
"I've been very happy here but now I have to look ahead and focus on my new team.
"The truth is that I was very happy here, it's something that I cannot deny. It makes me sad to go but that's the way it is. That's life.
"Now the only thing I can say is that I'm happy. I'm changing one great club for another great club."
Sneijder, who is reported to have agreed a five-year contract with a net annual salary of €4 million, claims he is being pushed out of the door by Real, who are trying to offload to counterbalance the mega-millions purchase of Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso.
He added: "What has happened with me is something very strange. The coach said he counted on me but there are people at the club who don't.
"They have treated me very badly but I prefer not to talk about it. I'm going to give everything there (Inter). Life and football move on."
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