Madrid/Rome- Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder refused Tuesday to travel to Italy, where he had been expected to sign a new contract with Serie A champions Inter Milan after two seasons at Real Madrid. According to the online editions of Spain's major newspapers, the midfielder has refused to budge although the Spanish giants have taken away his number 10 shirt and locker in the team's locker-room.
"After the deal had been completed between the teams, the footballer was expected in Milan this afternoon to sign the terms of his new contract. But the playmaker has already told (Real Madrid) that he is not going to catch a plane and will stay in Madrid," El Mundo said in its online edition.
Sneijder, 25, said recently that he preferred to remain with Real, but the club had made it equally clear that they were not planning to field him this season.
Inter Milan needs a midfielder and was said to have offered a transfer fee of about 15 million euros (21.4 million dollars), which Real Madrid had reportedly accepted.
According to Spanish radio network Cadena SER, Sneijder's salary was one of the roots of the problem. He earns 4 million euros (5.7 million dollars) at Real Madrid and Inter Milan only offered the player 3.5 million euros (5 million dollars).
