PSG’s millions lure Ibra away from Milan

Paris Saint Germain have signed Milan’s Swedish international striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic subject to him passing a medical, the French club’s sporting director Leonardo told AFP yesterday evening.

The 30-year-old – who has previously played for among others Juventus, Barcelona and Inter – will be paid a reported €15 million a year, making him the highest-paid player in Ligue 1, should he pass a medical today.

He will then be officially unveiled at a press conference at around 4 p.m.

Leonardo – a former player and coach of Milan – had finalised the deal with more talks yesterday after intensive negotiations last week with the cash-strapped Italian giants willing to sell for the right price.

“We’ve reached agreement, the deal is done: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of our players, he’ll write history for Paris Saint-Germain,” Leonardo was quoted as saying by Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport on their website.

The Brazilian was quoted by L’Equipe as rejoicing at attracting ‘a player of real calibre’, and by Parisien as a player who is able to ‘change everything’.

It will take Qatari-owned PSG’s spending to over €100 million in the close season and to around €173 million since Qatar Sport Investments (QSI) bought the historic club almost a year ago.

Ibrahimovic’s arrival along with Milan defender Thiago Silva comes at an estimated cost of between 70 and 80 million euros.

PSG – who will play in the Champions League next season after finishing second in the league last term – also shelled out a reported €30 million for Argentine international Ezequiel Lavezzi from Napoli earlier this month.

The fees being paid out and the salaries being promised have provoked some disgust in France with former Minister for Sports Roselyne Bachelot expressing her ‘indignation, almost disgust’ on French TV last night.