Dalla Bona signs for AC Milan

AC MILAN last night completed the signing of Italian midfielder Sam Dalla Bona from Chelsea.

The Rossoneri club announced the move for the 21-year-old on the club’s official website, www.acmilan.it.

Dalla Bona, who moved to England in October 1998 at just 17 from Atalanta’s junior side, has signed until June 30, 2007. The midfielder will join his new team-mates at Milan’s training ground, Milanello, today. The talented midfielder has yet to make his debut in the top Italian flight. No fee has been reported but Milan have denied suggestions that the highly-rated youngster Marco Donadel was offered in a swap deal for Dalla Bona.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough have opened talks with Juninho and are confident of bringing the World Cup winner back to Teesside.

In what has been a whirlwind few days for Boro, the club today confirmed as they unveiled record signing Massimo Maccarone and reflected on yesterday’s speculation that manager Steve McClaren was to replace David O’Leary at Leeds, that their negotiations with the Atletico Madrid star are progressing. Chief executive Keith Lamb, the man doing all the talking, revealed that discussions are under way and will continue in the days to come.

‘‘We have agreed a fee with Atletico Madrid, we’re speaking with Juninho and an announcement will be made in due course,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re continuing to talk. Juninho has enjoyed his time here. He was very comfortable here on both occasions.

‘‘He has expressed a love of the club and the area and I’m certain that we would be able to persuade him to come back.

‘‘It has been a difficult seven or eight days for Juninho. Brazil won the World Cup after all, and I do know that they can celebrate in Brazil, that’s for sure.’’

McClaren is on holiday in Spain, but reacted swiftly last night to reports linking him with the Elland Road job, which was today filled by Terry Venables. However, Lamb insisted that there had never been any fear within the club that their manager was ready to leave.

‘‘There’s no question of relief at Middlesbrough,’’ he said. ‘‘Steve McClaren was our manager, is our manager and will be our manager, and that’s the end of the subject.’’ McClaren will return from his brief break next Monday to re-acquaint himself with his players, and there will be at least one new face among them after Maccarone’s £8.15m move.

The impact made by compatriot Fabrizio Ravanelli six years ago has left him with a lot to live up to, but the 22-year-old former Empoli hitman is confident that he can prove himself in the Premiership. ‘‘I know Ravanelli did very well over here, but I will try to beat his record at Boro,’’ he said. ‘‘I score goals and I compete, but I am a team player as well.

‘‘It’s a big step coming from Serie B to the English Premier League, but I’m looking forward to it and I believe I can do well.’’

Maccarone was much sought after both in Italy and abroad as his talent found a wider stage last season, his goals in Empoli’s promotion campaign winning him recognition at both under-21 level, where he scored twice against England in the European Championship finals in Switzerland in May, and with the senior side, for whom he was handed a debut against Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men at Leeds in March. Sections of the Italian media have suggested that his decision to come to England could harm his international prospects, but Lamb, having seen Christian Ziege in particular revitalise his German career at the club, has few qualms. ‘‘Middlesbrough have a fantastic record at getting players back into international teams,’’ he said. ‘‘We resurrected Ziege’s career, we didn’t hinder Ravanelli in any way and nor did we harm Juninho. I think that with Premiership football being as attractive as it is at the moment, there will be ample opportunity for Massimo to show his talents to the Italian international selectors.’’ Boro’s latest acquisition will be handed the task of getting the goals which proved in such short supply last season, although just who he will partner remains a matter for some contention with Boro insisting that Croatian Alen Boksic remains part of their plans. But they are confident that he can do the job.