Roma's new €10 million signing Marco Borriello rejected an approach from Manchester City and also had an option to join Real Madrid, according to the player's agent.

GettyImagesMarco Borriello: Moved from Milan to Roma

Boriello joined the Giallorossi from AC Milan on transfer deadline day after rejecting a loan move to Juventus in favour of a permanent deal, and agent Tiberio Cavalleri has revealed a number of other high-profile clubs were also interested in striking a deal.

"On Monday Roberto Mancini called me and we spoke," Cavalleri told Il Corriere dello Sport,. "He wanted Marco at Manchester City, but I told him Marco was only interested in playing in the Champions League."

"Then on Tuesday the big hit came from Real Madrid. But Karim Benzema did not leave for Marseille..."

Borriello, 28, opted to join Roma after being seduced by a text from Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi and a heart to heart with club president Rosella Sensi.

"If I am here today, I owe it to Rosella Sensi, to her words and to the passion that she knew how to transmit to me," Borriello said.

"I said no to Juventus because I am a sensible person and when I heard the President speak and I read the text message from De Rossi which gave me goosebumps, I immediately accepted. He texted me to tell me to come here and ended with 'we are going to win'."