AC Milan beats tough competition to Lapadula signing
AC Milan has swooped to take in-demand forward Gianluca Lapadula from Pescara after a free-scoring season in Serie B.
Welcome @G_Lapadula! With us until June 30th, 2021 🔴⚫️#weareacmilan pic.twitter.com/u6EnQtWSDg
— AC Milan (@acmilan) June 24, 2016
The striker was subject of reported interest from the likes of Napoli and Genoa, and also Leicester City if you believe Daniel Sebastiani, president of the 26-year-old's now-former club.
Lapadula instead opted to pen a five-year contract with the Rossoneri, however, for a fee that ESPN FC's Selene Scarsi believes is in the region of €9 million.
"I strongly wanted to join Milan," Lapadula told La Gazzetta dello Sport via ESPN FC before the unveiling. "The negotiations were lightning fast. I'd like to thank (Milan's general manager Adriano) Galliani and the president (Silvio) Berlusconi for their faith, and I wish the president a speedy recovery (from heart surgery)."
Lapadula was a menace in the Italian second tier last term, reaching 30 goals and helping Pescara to promotion to Serie A through the playoffs. He attracted the attention of world football back in April, when he scored a sensational overhead kick against Cesena.
He becomes MIlan's second signing of the summer after full-back Leonel Vangioni, and arrives despite the protracted takeover from Chinese investors.