Rossoneri snap up Robinho

AC Milan’s capture of Brazilian is biggest deal as transfer window closes quietly in Europe.

Robinho
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Robinho is mobbed by Italian reporters after leaving his medical ahead of joining AC Milan [EPA]

Brazil striker Robinho ended his spell at Manchester City when he joined AC Milan, just two years after arriving in England for a British record fee.

Although financial details were not disclosed, it was the highest profile deal on a quiet final day of trading before the transfer window shut until January.

Robinho spent last season on loan with Santos in Brazil after an erratic first term with City.

Other big moves on Wednesday included Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar leaving Milan for Schalke 04 and Premier League Sunderland smashing their transfer record to sign Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan from Stade Rennes for a reported fee in excess of $20.03 million.

English Premier League clubs spent less than they did in 2007 in the summer transfer window as cash-strapped clubs sought to balance their books, according to business consultancy Deloitte.

Overall spending by English clubs was around $539.2 million, 22 per cent below the levels of 2009 and the lowest after three years of record growth, Deloitte said in a report released after the English deadline closed on Tuesday.

European spending down

Gross transfer spending by top clubs in France, Germany, Italy and Spain was down 25 per cent to 40 per cent compared with 2009, widening the gap with their English peers.

Twenty-six-year-old Robinho, who cost City $50 million from Real Madrid and has played 80 times for his country, never settled in Manchester and spent six months on loan at Brazilian club Santos last season.

Milan hope Robinho, who has signed a four-year contract, will be a key element in helping the Rossoneri regain the Serie A title they last won in 2004.

“AC Milan annnounce the permanent signing of Robinho from Manchester City. The Brazilian player has signed a four-year contract,” Milan said in a matter-of-fact statement.

Striker Marco Borriello went to Roma from Milan in a loan deal concluded just before the close of the window.

Huntelaar left the San Siro to join Schalke and the German club also recruited Atletico Madrid midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado.

Schalke’s Bundesliga rivals VfB Stuttgart signed Italian midfielder Mauro Camoranesi, a 2006 World Cup winner, from Juventus for one year.

In England, Fulham full back Paul Konchesky moved to Premier League rivals Liverpool on a four-year deal where he will link up again with his former manager Roy Hodgson.

Liverpool’s Argentine defender Emiliano Insua left Anfield on a season-long loan deal for Galatasaray in Turkey.

Another player heading to Turkey was Everton defender Joseph Yobo, poised to joined Fenerbahce on loan before the Turkish transfer window closes on Wednesday.

Arsenal left back Armand Traore joined Juventus on loan and Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa moved from Spartak Moscow to Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long deal.

Stoke City bolstered their squad with two signings, Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen arriving from AS Monaco and Senegal midfielder Salif Diao rejoining the club on a two-year deal.

Birmingham City recruited Spartak Moscow captain Martin Jiranek, Belarus midfielder Aleksandr Hleb and Chile striker Jean Beausejour, while Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink left English second division side Hull City to sign a two-year deal with Rapid Vienna.

Source: Reuters