Serie A giants AC Milan have finally clinched a four-and-a-half-year deal for Manchester City’s striker Mario Balotelli.
According to the club’s director Umberto Gandini, the Italy international will undergo a medical in Milan on Wednesday before agreeing personal deals.
Gandini announced the news on Twitter:
It is believed that Milan have agreed to pay in the region of £20m with added fees on bonuses. Though both the parties are yet to sign any formal contract, but it will be sorted out soon before the January transfer window closes.
The striker has been constantly linked with a move away from the club in recent months while it has been suggested that his relationship with manager Roberto Mancini has been strained following the training ground bust up.
Mancini stated few days back that the club is not looking to sell any of their players in the winter transfer window. In fact, Milan were not so confident in securing the deal early on, as the Italian side urged the club to reduce their £24m asking price while their attempt to take the player on loan had been discouraged.
Milan’s vice president Adriano Galliani though gave a hint couple of days back the deal could yet happen. Milan were looking to pay any fees in six installments while City wanted one time lump-sum payment for the player that can be swiftly reinvested.
City signed the player in 2010 from Inter Milan paying £24m and wanted to recoup at least a major chunk of the money through sales. If the deal is completed, which seems just a formality now, the much maligned striker will complete a remarkable two-and-a-half-year stay in Manchester where his off-the-pitch peccadilloes have grabbed the headlines more in English press than on-pitch heroics.
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