Milan's Ignazio Abate signs contract extension through 2019

Ignazio Abate is, apparently, happy at AC Milan.

That seems to be the message gleaned from the defender's decision on Thursday to sign a contract extension with the Rossoneri that will tie him to the club until June 2019.

Abate, 28, has been at the San Siro since 2009, when he arrived at the club after making a €2.5-million move from Torino. That followed a loan spell at Empoli, where he was sent after graduating from Milan's youth system.

After extending his deal with a club that he has, for all but one season, spent his entire career playing for, it was no surprise that the speedy right-back was excited by the announcement.

"This signature fills me with pride," he wrote on Twitter. "10 years of AC Milan, honoured day after day. Rossonero forever. Thanks AC Milan."