Milan confirm Flamini signing

AC MILAN have agreed a four-year contract with Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini, the Italian giants confirmed yesterday.

The 24-year-old, who is out of contract at the Emirates Stadium in the summer, underwent a medical yesterday and will remain at the San Siro until 2012.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani revealed the signing was imminent after his team’s 2-1 triumph over Inter in yesterday’s derby.

Despite the offer of a new five-year deal — understood to be worth around £55,000-a-week (70,000) — from the north London club, his head was turned by Milan’s interest.

Juventus were also reported to be tracking the France international, who formed a fine partnership with Cesc Fabregas at the heart of the Arsenal team this season having looked to be on his way out of the club at the end of the last campaign.

He put in a fine performance at the San Siro as Wenger’s team knocked Milan out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage in March.

It is understood the player said his goodbyes to some staff as he left the car park after Sunday’s 1-0 home win over Everton in the Barclays Premier League.

Flamini expressed his joy that the deal had been done after finalising terms with the Serie A outfit.

“I am extremely happy. Thanks a million,” he said.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti added: ‘‘Flamini is a very good player - we saw this when he played against us in the UEFA Champions League. This is an excellent signing."

The former Marseille man will compete for a place in the Rossoneri midfield alongside Brazil star Kaka and Italy trio Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini.

Flamini’s last match as an Arsenal player will be Sunday’s Premier League trip to Sunderland, before he officially joins the Milan ranks on July 1.

Meanwhile Jens Lehmann says he will look back on his five years at Arsenal with great pride and believes the current squad is destined to win a league title.

The veteran German — signed from Borussia Dortmund in July 2003 and out of contract in the summer — was given the chance for an emotional farewell to the Arsenal fans when he replaced young Pole Lukasz Fabianski for the final 20 minutes of the win against the Toffees.

Lehmann revealed the farewell appearance had been pre-planned, but was still an emotional experience nevertheless.

“The boss told me before he planned to get me on,” said the German.

“I had one or two tears in my eyes, it was a great farewell for me and this will always stay in my heart.”

Arsenal’s title hopes may have ended in disappointment but Lehmann insists the current squad have the ability to write their own chapter in the club’s illustrious history. He said: “They have got talent, like no other probably, and that’s always an ingredient to be successful — and it comes sooner or later, we hope.”

As for his own future, Lehmann — who turned down the chance to rejoin former club Dortmund during the January transfer window — will reflect on that after this summer’s European Championships.

He said: “There might be a possibility in Germany, but it depends on the offer I get.

“If I get an offer then I’ll have to make a decision if I want to play on, I don’t know that now.

“It depends how exhausting the European Championships will be, if I feel too tired I might stop. But physically, I feel very, very good now and the boss confirmed that to me. So I might be playing on for another year.”