AC Milan sign Marco Sportiello | OneFootball

AC Milan announced the signing of ex-Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello on a Bosman transfer on Wednesday afternoon.

The 31-year-old ran down his contract at the Gewiss Stadium to sign a four-year contract with the Rossoneri, joining the club as a free agent.

After ten years in Bergamo, intercepted by two loan spells at Frosinone and Fiorentina, the experienced goalkeeper embarks on a new challenge at San Siro.

Sportiello wasn’t Gian Piero Gasperini’s first-choice keeper last season but still collected 15 Serie A appearances due to Juan Musso’s injury-troubled campaign.

His arrival means Milan will part ways with second-string shot-stopper Ciprian Tatarusanu, whose deal in Lombardy expires on June 30.

Tatarusanu signed for the Rossoneri in 2020 after terminating his contract with Lyon to be a back-up option for Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Even though the Italian left his homeland to team up with Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, the 37-year-old’s status remained the same as Stefano Pioli’s side brought in Mike Maignan to replace their homegrown star.

As one of the best goalies in Europe, let alone Serie A, the Frenchman has nailed down a place between the sticks as his own over the past two years, keeping Tatarusanu pinned to the margins.

However, Maignan’s long-term injury that prevented him from featuring for France at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar handed the Romanian 16 league appearances last season.

Tatarusanu’s underwhelming performances in the 27-year-old’s absence almost cost Milan a place in next season’s Champions League, explaining the club’s decision not to renew his contract.

Sportiello, who has spent most of his professional career in Serie A, will take the veteran’s place on the bench unless the Rossoneri fail to fend off Chelsea’s interest in Maignan.

Keen to find a more reliable goalkeeper to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Blues have identified the Milan stopper as their prime target following a faltered attempt to land Andre Onana from Inter Milan.