AC Milan’s struggle to offload playmaker Robinho is hindering their attempts to land Verona attacker Juan Iturbe, according to fresh reports in the Italian press.
La Gazzetta Dello Sport claims new Milan head coach Filippo Inzaghi has already held a telephone conversation with Iturbe in a bid to help the deal along and see off any late competition from rival suitors.
However, the report reveals that the San Siro giants’ failure to so far find a buyer for out-of-favour Brazil international Robinho and striker Alessandro Matri is proving to be a major stumbling block, as they need to sell in order to fund incoming transfers.
As Football Express News reported yesterday, Robinho’s agent Marisa Ramos told MilanNews.it that he is in regular discussions with the club over the player’s immediate future.
The Iturbe deal is said to be in place and can be completed swiftly once Milan make the necessary amount of money from their own sales, but as things stand the only striker close to leaving the Serie A side is M’Baye Niang, who is on the radar of Greek side Olympiacos.
Robinho, who was left out of the Brazil squad for this summer’s World Cup campaign in his homeland, has been deemed surplus to requirements and the Italians are keen to shift him from their wage bill.
He has two years remaining on his contract and is unlikely to command a large transfer fee – in stark contrast to his £30million switch from Real Madrid to Manchester City in 2008.
He lasted 18 months at the Etihad Stadium before a loan spell at Santos was followed by the permanent switch to Milan.