Zaccardo pleased to join Milan from Parma
Friday, January 25, 2013
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"I am finally getting to join a big team like Milan at 31," said defender Cristian Zaccardo after the 2006 FIFA World Cup winner completed a move from Parma FC to AC Milan.
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AC Milan have signed defender Cristian Zaccardo from Parma FC, with left-back Djamel Mesbah and midfielder Rodney Strasser moving in the opposition direction as part of the deal.
A 2006 FIFA World Cup winner with Italy, the 31-year-old Zaccardo has agreed a contract until 2016 with the Rossoneri. He can operate at right-back or at centre-back. He made his Serie A debut with Bologna FC in 2001 and also played for US Città di Palermo and VfL Wolfsburg – where he won the Bundesliga title in 2008/09 – before joining Parma ahead of the 2009/10 season and scoring ten goals in 118 Serie A games for the Ducali.
"I'm happy and honoured, and I will do my best to help the side," said Zaccardo. "I am finally getting to join a big team like Milan at 31 after playing so many games in Serie A, and now I will give my all."
A European champion at Under-21 level in 2004, Zaccardo has 17 senior caps for Italy and one goal. Meanwhile the 28-year-old Mesbah, who is currently playing at the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria, leaves Milan after appearing only nine times in Serie A with the Rossoneri since arriving from US Lecce last January. Strasser, a 22-year-old midfielder from Sierra Leone, will be loaned to Parma for the rest of the campaign.
