Pazzini still wanted at AC Milan

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani insists the arrival of Mario Balotelli does not mean Giampaolo Pazzini no longer has a role to play.

Several reports suggested Pazzini could be on his way out of AC Milan following the signing of Balotelli, who signed a contract until June 2017 on Thursday.

But Galliani said the former Inter Milan striker remains an important first-team player.

“I personally phoned Pazzini before we completed the signing of Balotelli to assure him that he remains an important player for Milan,” Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I have told him that he should remain calm and that we still count on him. He said that my explanation reassured him that he still has a role to play.”

Pazzini, 28, joined Milan from Inter in 2012 in a player-exchange deal that saw Antonio Cassano move in the other direction.

He has since scored 10 goals in 20 Serie A appearances.