Real snubbed Lazio trio for Baljic

Bosnia striker Elvir Baljic has said that Lazio tried to offload Darko Kovacevic, Simone Inzaghi and Diego Simeone to Real Madrid in exchange for him. The former Fenerbahce star also turned down an approach from AC Milan.

Baljic has forced himself back into first-team reckoning at the Bernabeu after spending a year loan at Turkish champions Fenerbahce. His first Real appearance for almost 18 months was in the Spanish giants' 4-1 Champions' League victory over Anderlecht last month.

And though he only played for nine minutes after replacing Claude Makelele, Baljic was confident that he could build on the opportunity to cement a regular place in the squad.

He explained on Sunday that he felt his patience in Madrid was finally paying off – and his European chance vindicated his decision to turn down an audacious approach from two of Serie A's biggest clubs.

Lazio, he explained, were prepared to get rid of one of three international players – Darko Kovacevic, Simone Inzaghi and Diego Simeone – in a bid to get their man.

"It was month ago when Lazio contacted me. My agent Dino Pasalic had talks with Real general manager Jorge Valdano and with Vicente del Bosque, but the coach said no. That was probably because he already has a strong team and I think he does not need those players."

Kovacevic only joined over the summer as part of the deal that saw Marcelo Salas join Juventus, but has already been offered to Fiorentina and Valencia as a makeweight in efforts to sign other players.

Inzaghi is an Italy international who lags behind Hernan Crespo and Claudio Lopez as Alberto Zaccheroni's first-choice pairing. But Argentina star Simeone is out of action for six months after a collision with PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Ivica Kralj in a 1-0 Champions' League defeat last week left him with torn knee ligaments.

"Before Lazio, I had a offer from AC Milan, but I am not sad. I play for probably the biggest club in the world and all my plans for the future are conected to Real," Baljic, who scored two goals in Bosnia's 5-0 rout of Liechtenstein on Sunday night, added.

Milan coach Fatih Terim only had three forwards – Andriy Shevchenko, Pippo Inzaghi and Javi Moreno – at his disposal after it emerged that young striker Jose damaged knee ligaments and Rui Costa and Aliyu were also injured.

Terim signed Marco Simone from Monaco after Baljic's snub.

Baljic went on to admit that he was nervous before the Ancerlecht game. "I had a small fear before that match, because I had not played for Real for almost a year and a half" he said.

"It was not easy playing again in front of a full house at the Santiagio Bernabeu. Of course, it was real pleasure to know that coach Del Bosque changed his attitude to me. It's great to know that he is counting on me again."