AC Milan take Aquilani on loan

Alberto Aquilani has joined AC Milan on a season-long loan from Liverpool, with a view to a permanent deal.

The 27-year-old midfielder joined the Anfield outfit in 2009 for a fee of 20 million pounds from Roma, but never settled at the club, making just 28 appearances in all competitions.

He spent last season on loan at Juventus before the off-season signings of Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing made it clear he would not feature in manager Kenny Dalglish’s first-team squad, despite impressing in pre-season.

The loan deal will see him at Milan for the season, with Massimiliano Allegri’s side having the option to purchase the midfielder if he makes at least 25 appearances for the club.

Aquilani will replace Andrea Pirlo, who joined Juventus, and Dalglish explained that his decision to allow the Italian to leave was down to family and his crowded squad.

“It’s a great move for Alberto,” Dalglish told Liverpool’s official website.

“He’s got his wife and kid over there. It was difficult for him here. When he came back his pre-season training was excellent. We gave him a few games, he did well in those games. But the problem for us was trying to get him in the team. We couldn’t get him in the team.”

“Obviously everybody wants to play and Alberto is moving over to a fantastic football club. He goes there with the best wishes of everyone and we hope it works out for him, because he was never a problem in any way, shape or form.”