Forgotten Milan man Antonini joins Newcastle
Newcastle has announced the signing of forgotten Milan left-back Luca Antonini. The Italian was deemed surplus to requirements at his former club.
Desperate to get rid of him, it was reported Milan would allow Antonini to leave for free but Newcastle has snapped him up for the reported fee of 800k.
Although not an Italy international, nor is he capped by Italy, Antonini made 72 league appearances altogether for Milan, first joining the youth ranks at Milan as a youngster and going out on loan to several clubs, before being shipped out to Sampdoria and having numerous loan spells again for the next few years. Antonini found himself back at Milan in 2007 but left the next year to Empoli without making a single league appearance in Serie A at the San Siro. Just a year after joining Empoli, Antonini was back at Milan in an exchange deal, where he remained for another five years, the last of those years being on loan to Wolfsburg in Germany.
"Well, I'm certain he'll have a big part to play here," Barton said, when asked about the transfer. "We are missing quality at left-back and Luca certainly has quality. All I can promise you though is that he won't be going back to Milan again."
Antonini will wear the No 6 shirt for Newcastle, last worn by Mike Williamson who moved to Queens Park Rangers just an hour before Antonini's arrival was confirmed.