Diego Lopez’s long-anticipated departure from Real Madrid is close to realisation as the veteran goalkeeper prepares to complete his move to Italian giants AC Milan.
The transfer will bring to an end an extremely eventful 18 months at the Bernabeu for the former Sevilla stopper, who featured in an unusual job-share arrangement with Madrid skipper Iker Casillas last season.
With Casillas reserved exclusively for cup action, Lopez was preferred for La Liga fixtures by boss Carlo Ancelotti and he performed well throughout the campaign, even though his team’s title challenge eventually fell short.
However, this week’s arrival of Costa Rican international Keylor Navas in a €10million (Dh49m) deal from Levante made it plain that one goalkeeper would have to leave the Bernabeu, and 32 year-old Lopez was also likely to be sacrificed ahead of club legend Casillas.
After meeting with Lopez’s agent Manuel García Quilon on Saturday morning, Milan’s general manager Adriano Galliani told a group of fans that the deal was “99 per cent complete”, and Lopez is set to put pen to paper after undertaking a medical with the San Siro club on Monday.
The impending transfer has been welcomed by recently appointed Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi, who believes the capture of the experienced goalkeeper will be a positive move ahead of the new Serie A campaign. “I’m very pleased,” said Inzaghi. “This news has brightened up my day.”
Milan’s starting goalkeeper last season, which saw them finish in a disappointing eighth place in Serie A, was 37 year-old Christian Abbiati, who is now set to play a secondary role to new signing Lopez.
“His arrival is very important,” added Inzaghi.
“He will improve the group and Milan are making things better.”
Lopez is expected to sign a four-year contract and command an annual salary of €2.5m (Dh12.3m)