Rumour: AC Milan move for Fiorentina midfielder Milan Badelj

Milan Badelj has become a mainstay in the Milan midfield in the past couple of seasons

AC Milan seem to be getting active in the transfer market again and are currently pursuing the Fiorentina midfield mainstay Milan Badelj. After Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi finally signed the preliminary agreement with a Chinese consortium for the complete ownership of the club, the Italians finally seem to be back in the market.  

It’s been a frustrating few years for Rossoneri fans, replete with mismanagement and confusion from the top down. Milan did splash the cash last year, but they were still areas of the team (midfield in particular) that weren’t adequately reinforced. 

Now, with the new management on the cusp of taking over, funds for the transfer market will be available soon and Adriano Galliani, the club’s current joint CEO has got to work on completing Milan’s squad. 

Milan Badelj has played at Fiorentina for 2 years after his transfer from Hamburg. He rose to prominence with his performances in the Bundesliga as well as for the Croatian national team. Despite the abundance of talent Croatia has in midfield, Milan Badelj has been a fixture in their lineup for his unique attributes. 

Badelj’s hustle in the middle of the park, as well as his ability to play out of tight spaces and quick passing has generated interest from several clubs. The 27-year old has also recently fallen out with Fiorentina over the terms of a new contract and now wants to leave. New Milan coach Vincenzo Montella also seems to be playing a big part in attracting Badelj to the San Siro, as the Croatian seems very keen on working with him. 

Adriano Galliani will reportedly meet Milan Badelj’s agents in Ibiza in the coming week and try to find an agreement with their entourage while also beginning to negotiate with Fiorentina. The Viola won’t be keen in selling Badelj to one of their main rivals for European competition, but will want to cash in on Badelj while they can, since his contract expires in 2018.

Fiorentina would apparently value the player at €12million to €15 million, a price that Milan should be willing to pay. With Tottenham, Everton and Borussia Monchengladbach also interested in Badelj’s services and lining up offers, Milan fans will be hoping they can close this deal soon. 

The Italian giants have already signed Serie B top scorer Gianluca Lapadula, Lionel Vangioni and Gustavo Gomez as they desperately seek to return to the Champions League, a competition they have won 7 times. Milan Badelj could be a crucial piece in the jigsaw that helps them return to their former levels.