Javier Zanetti discusses links with key Leeds man and reported £10m Whites target

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Javier Zanetti has discussed Inter Milan’s reported interest in Leeds United coach Marcelo Bielsa and the Yorkshire-linked winger Pedro de la Vega, while speaking to Ole.

The Inter legend-turned-vice-president has been spending much of the last few days rubbishing rumours linking the Serie A giants with the likes of James Rodriguez, N’Golo Kante and Lionel Messi.

While De La Vega is a relative unknown compared to three of the biggest names in world football, and would cost a tiny fraction of the £600 million-plus Barcelona are demanding for their want-away talisman, the Lanus-based teenager looks set to be disappointed if he had his heart set on a life-changing move to the San Siro.

“If I’m honest, I don’t like to create false expectations. Surely the players that stand-out are followed by our recruiters, but it doesn’t mean that they will come to Inter,” Zanetti said of his fellow Argentine.

De La Vega, who was linked with a £10 million move to Manchester City last year, was named as a target for Marcelo Bielsa’s newly-promoted side by TYC Sports in August.

The fleet-footed teen is precisely the kind of malleable, hungry young talent who has underpinned Bielsa’s free-flowing Leeds, and he scored five times in 34 games during an impressive breakthrough season at Lanus.

Interestingly, Zanetti also discussed the possibility of luring his former Argentina boss Bielsa to Milan as a potential replacement for the eternally-outspoken Antonio Conte.

But fear not Leeds fans, the currently out-of-contract 65-year-old will still be patrolling the Elland Road touchline and down the isles of the Wetherby Morrisons next season.

“The respect I have for Marcelo will always be there and it meant something very important in my career, but he was never an option to work at Inter,” Zanetti says.

After leading Inter to a second-place finish in Serie A, and the Europa League final, Conte will now be sticking around for another year as the blue-and-black bridesmaids wait for their own day in the sun.