Inter Milan
French international Geoffrey Kondogbia has completed his move from AS Monaco to Inter Milan, signing a five-year deal with the Serie A club after snubbing city rivals AC Milan at the 11th hour.
Kondogbia completed his medical with Inter on Monday morning, after which a club official told AFP: “He will be unveiled to fans after 5pm (7.15pm UAE) this evening in Milan.”
Inter have yet to publish an official statement although the club’s Twitter feed showed a picture of Kondogbia in a club shirt with a short message confirming his signature: “Contracts signed with Monaco for the transfer of Geoffrey Kondogbia.”
The 22-year-old Frenchman, who spent two seasons at Monaco after joing the Ligue 1 club from Sevilla, is expected to earn EU€4 million (Dh16.7m) a season plus bonuses after making a last-gasp decision to snub AC Milan.
Read more: The National's Transfer Talk page
Monaco are expected to receive a fee believed to be in the region of €35m.
Milan CEO Adriano Galliani said Sunday he believed he had tied up Kondogbia’s move to the seven-time European champions.
However Inter flew in with a late, improved offer which appeared to sway the player and his representatives.
The marauding midfielder, who has been compared to retired French international Patrick Vieira, had also been linked with a move to Manchester City, Real Madrid and Juventus after showcasing his talents last season when Monaco reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Juventus
Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic, meanwhile, is on the point of signing for Juventus after one season with Atletico Madrid, the Serie A champions said on Monday.
“Mario Mandzukic is this morning undergoing a routine medical ahead of his proposed transfer to Juventus from Atletico Madrid,” Juventus said in a statement.
Former Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich forward Mandzukic scored 20 goals in 43 matches in all competitions for Diego Simeone’s side last season as Atletico finished third in the defence of the title they won in 2014.
Juventus, who won a Serie A and Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) double this season and reached the Champions League final, have already signed Germany midfielder Sami Khedira from Real Madrid to reinforce the midfield.
Khedira’s move could facilitate the exit of France midfielder Paul Pogba, who is reportedly a target for clubs including Real, European champions Barcelona and several English teams as well as Paris Saint-Germain.
It also remains uncertain whether 36-year-old playmaker Andrea Pirlo will stay for another season.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
