Soccer: Milan sign Robinho in another coup
Brazilian gives further boost after Ibrahimovic's arrival
31 August, 18:25
(ANSA) - Milan, August 31 - AC Milan further boosted their
bid to end treble winners Inter Milan's five-year reign as Serie
A champions Tuesday when they signed Brazil forward Robinho days
after landing Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.Former Inter hero Ibrahimovic's arrival from Barcelona at the weekend had Milan fans in a fever of anticipation not seen for several years and Robinho's move from Manchester City is set to heat things up even more.
The team, who have not won the league title since 2004, rode on the wave of Ibra enthusiasm Sunday when they thrashed Lecce 4-0 in their Serie A opener, while Inter could do no better than a 0-0 draw at Bologna on Monday.
Robinho never settled in England after his 42.5-million-euro move from Real Madrid in 2008 and spent six months on loan at his first club Santos last season.
He has signed a four-year deal after Milan agreed to pay City a transfer fee of around 15 million euros.
To make some room in the squad, the seven-times European champions sold Netherlands international Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to German side Schalke 04 and fellow forward Marco Borriello to AS Roma on the last day of the transfer market. Huntelaar failed to land a regular starting place after leaving Real Madrid last summer and risked become even more marginal because of the new recruits.
''I never wanted to leave Milan but that changed when Zlatan Ibrahimovic came from Barcelona,'' Huntelaar said on his website, adding the transfer fee was in the region of 13 million euros.
Borriello, meanwhile, moved to the capital after refusing to go to Juventus on loan. But Juve did land Arsenal's 20-year-old French left back Armand Traore and they are reportedly close to signing centre back Leandro Rinaudo from Napoli on loan with an option for a permanent move. Earlier the Turin club said goodbye to two of their best servants of the last decade.
Former France forward David Trezeguet signed a two-year contract with Hercules of Alicante and World Cup-winning Italy midfielder Mauro Camoranesi joined Stuttgart.
French defender Jonathan Zebina left too to sign for promoted Brescia.
The Turin club have been spending big as they seek to rebuild under new coach Luigi Del Neri after last season's miserable campaign, although they made a poor start on Sunday, losing 1-0 at Bari.
Juve have brought in Serbia midfielder Milos Krasic, Italy centre back Leonardo Bonucci, winger Simone Pepe and forward Fabio Quagliarella, and Uruguayan offensive player Jorge Martinez, among others.
They have also signed midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who has 11 Italy caps, on loan from Liverpool.
Sampdoria, meanwhile, said they have loaned Lithuania defender Marius Stankevicius to Spanish club Valencia. Samp's city rivals Genoa said Milan's Georgia defender Kakha Kaladze was coming to them on loan.
