02/07/2001

MILAN LAND INZAGHI, COMANDINI JOINS ATALANTA

AC Milan have completed the capture of Filippo Inzaghi from Juventus for £16 million plus defender Cristian Zenoni. Coach Fatih Terim earlier raised cash for the deal by selling young prospect Gianni Comandini to Atalanta for £10 million.

Inzaghi, 27, passed a medical last week but, according to Rossoneri vice-president Adriano Galliani, the transfer hinged on whether Terim could swell the club coffers by selling players.

Comandini's departure was the key, while Brescia are poised to land German target man Oliver Bierhoff.

Inzaghi, who has signed a contract until June 2006, is just pleased the deal has been completed.
"I had four marvellous years with Juventus. I got on well with everyone but now I am starting a new adventure.

"Milan have been trailing me for a while and I feel they truly appreciate me, especially vice-president Adriano Galliani. I always said that I would leave Juventus for Milan, and that's what I've done. I'm not that young and that means that my new side believe in me.

"I will have team-mates like Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta - players I knew and I appreciate from the Italy team.

"I've been impressed with Milan's fans. They are keen to have me even though I've been on an opposing side for so long. Now I want to go on to win titles in Italy and in Europe.

Inzaghi is especially looking forward to linking up with Ukraine star Andriy Shevchenko. "I know Andriy very well and he's a marvellous player. We won't have any problems playing together and we shouldn't forget that Milan have other excellent strikers too.

Shevchenko has also been linked with Spurs, but Milan are unlikely to allow him to leave and he will provide competition for Inzaghi along with Javi Moreno and Jose Mari.

The Inzaghi deal was confirmed on Milan's official website on Monday, but onefootball.com revealed back in May that Milan were Inzaghi's "first choice" if he left Juve.

The Turin giants wanted £25 million for the forward, who has scored 83 goals for them, before they were beaten down in negotiations. He has signed a five-year contract.

Inzaghi joined Juventus in the summer of 1997, but lost his place towards the end of last season following the arrival of Frenchman David Trezeguet.

Zenoni leaves Milan without playing a game for the club after signing from Atalanta at the end of the season.

[Onefootball.com]