Goran Pandev admits he turned down Inter Milan to stick with Genoa.

The veteran forward was part of Inter's Treble winning team, joining Genoa five years ago.

“There was something, for me Inter are everything," Pandev told Sky Sport Italia. “They're the team that has changed my life and made me win more, but my idea has always been clear since I arrived at Genoa.

“I wanted to show people that I wanted to give a lot. [Sporting director Piero] Ausilio called me and I asked him if he was making fun of me, but he said no, that they needed me. I replied: 'Aren't you looking for younger people?'

“Then I talked to [Genoa CEO Alessandro] Zarbano, he said they wouldn't let me go, the people here needed me. It would have been bad if I left."