Milan opt for Ricardo Oliveira

AC Milan have strengthened their attack by signing Brazilian international Ricardo Oliveira from Real Betis Balompié for an undisclosed fee, with Switzerland midfielder Johann Vogel travelling in the opposite direction.

'Extremely happy'
The 26-year-old Oliveira joins the Rossoneri on a five-year contract and will try to fill the gap left by Andriy Shevchenko's transfer to Chelsea FC. Although Milan boast established strikers Filippo Inzaghi and Alberto Gilardino, Oliveira is the first forward recruited since Shevchenko's departure. "I'm delighted to sign for a big club like Milan," he said.

Eye-catching
The 29-year-old Vogel, meanwhile, moves to Betis after a solitary campaign at the San Siro in which he made 14 Serie A appearances. He had previously enjoyed a successful six-year stay with PSV Eindhoven, catching Milan's eye during the Dutch club's epic UEFA Champions League semi-final defeat by the Italians in 2004/05. Capped 90 times by Switzerland, he began his career with Grasshopper-Club.

Injury setback
Oliveira, who has nine Brazil caps, also endured a frustrating 2005/06 as a serious knee ligament injury sustained on UEFA Champions League duty last November cost him the chance of a place at the FIFA World Cup. He was loaned to São Paulo FC in April to regain his fitness. Formerly with Portuguesa de Desportos and Santos FC, he landed in Europe in 2003 with Valencia CF but switched to Betis after just 12 months. In his first term in Seville he scored 22 goals in 37 matches to help Betis qualify for the UEFA Champions League, capping a memorable campaign with a strike in his side's Spanish Cup final victory over CD Osasuna.