Rafinha has revealed Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez urged him to join a ‘big club’ before he signed on loan with Inter Milan from Barcelona last month.
The 25-year-old midfielder only made one appearance for the Catalan giants this season – having struggled to recover from a knee injury he sustained in April.
The Brazilian, who came through the ranks at Barca, had several clubs interested in securing his services but decided to join the Serie A side on the back of advice from team-mate Messi.
“Leo (Messi) told me to go to a big club,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “In January I spoke to Messi but also Suarez, they explained to me that I was going to a historic club, a big world.
“I was going crazy thinking about Ronaldo and Adriano [when they were at Inter].
“I did not come here thinking about recovering from my injury and then returning to Barcelona, I hope to stay.”
Rafinha is still not yet at full fitness and has only made four appearances off the bench for the San Siro side.
But, the Sao Paulo native is relishing the prospect of stepping out against AC Milan in next Sunday’s Milan derby.
“I feel good,” he added. “I’m finding the right rhythm, I’m happy with my condition and I’m adapting to Italian football.
“I’m looking forward to the Milan derby – that’s the sort of game everyone knows, like Barcelona vs Real Madrid or River Plate vs Boca Juniors. I really want to win that derby.”
